Say no to smoking, say experts

KARACHI: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) organised a seminar in relation with the World No Tobacco Day on Wednesday. Addressing the participants, SPARC’s Kashif Mirza said that Pakistan was one of 15 countries with a heavy burden of tobacco-related diseases. This year, the theme of the World No Tobacco Day 2019, which will be observed on Friday, May 31, is “tobacco and lung health.” The campaign aims to raise awareness on the negative impact of tobacco has on people’s health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease, the fundamental role lungs play for the health and well-being of all people. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Sidra Imran proposed to increase taxes on tobacco products to discourage the habit among youngsters. There are laws to control tobacco sales to minors. Reducing smoking results in better health and decrease the cost borne by the government on the health sector.  

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2019.