Although smoking rates are decreasing in developed nations, the number of smokers in developing countries such as ours is increasing by about 3.4 per cent each year. This gives us an idea of the magnitude of the crisis facing developing nations, including our own. Our government had allocated well under one per cent of GDP — 0.46 per cent to be precise — on health care for this fiscal year. The allocation of such a meagre amount for health care means that we simply do not have the financial resources to treat the large number of sufferers of tobacco-related diseases and must essentially focus on prevention.
There are certain measures that we must urgently take. Firstly, tobacco prices must be increased to cut demand. There are many examples of countries where price hikes have succeeded in doing just that. In Pakistan’s case, however, it is critical that measures are taken to curb cigarette smuggling which, if left uncontrolled, would severely undercut the high cigarette prices, thus nullifying their effect. Secondly, a ban on smoking in all public places and in workplaces must be enforced. Thirdly, we must plaster cigarette packs with graphic warnings to discourage sales. Countries like Australia and Canada are known to use such graphic warning labels with considerable success. Fourthly, we must consider a total ban on tobacco advertising. Both China and the US have met with considerable success after placing a ban on much of its tobacco advertising.
And last but not least, we must consider designating a day each month on which no tobacco products may be sold.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2017.
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