Government should ban cigarettes and other injurious drugs are categorized as slow poison
KARACHI: Youngsters nowadays smoke with so much pride that it is unbelievable. This is all the more rampant in government universities of Karachi. One out of three students is seen smoking and cigarettes are openly being sold in canteens. What do cigarette sellers want to achieve by printing a horrific picture on the packet of cigarettes with warning; tobacco kills? If this is true and you know it then stop selling this poison. Our “well-educated” youth read the warnings and still smoke. In my opinion, the media is responsible for the popularity of cigarettes in teens. Media broadcasts films and dramas with actors smoking while the screen displays a warning; tobacco kills. Can’t visuals be produced on the media without the actors smoking at all? Teens idealise popular actors and follow such smoking activities along with their styles. I request the government to ban cigarettes and other injurious drugs are categorized as slow poison; or at least raise the prices to the extent that it become impossible for teenagers to buy them. The media should also stop showing actors smoke in their television shows.
Shamama Tariq
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2019.
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