Tobacco smoking in Pakistan is legal but only after the age of 18.
KARACHI: Tobacco smoking in Pakistan is legal but only after the age of 18. There are no proper rules and regulations implemented by the government to cut down the use of tobacco. The government should restrict shop keepers from selling cigarettes to children below the age of 18 and if they continue to do so strict actions should be taken against them and they should be charged with a fine. In Pakistan, around 166,000 people die due to diseases caused by smoking every year. While coming from university the other day I witnessed two children not more than 10 years og age smoking while riding their bike. Imagine, if they are smoking at the age of 10 what more things they will try when they are older. The government should impose strict laws for the citizens and should look into this matter seriously. They should also create awareness in the society and educate people on how injurious smoking can be. It is not only bad for the smoker but also harmful for the non-smoker too. Schools, colleges and universities should also not allow students to smoke in the premises and they should also make the drug test mandatory.
Neha Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2020.
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