Experts urge steps to prevent tobacco use among youth

Say tobacco industry-sponsored ‘talent hunt’ contest will further spread diseases

ISLAMABAD:

Health experts have shown concerns over the deceptively dangerous marketing tactics of the tobacco industry to attract the youth.

In a press release issued here on Tuesday by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), the experts warned that tobacco was a health hazard that leads to death and a global “talent hunt” competition organised by the world's biggest tobacco company would further spread diseases caused by consumption of tobacco products.

Malik Imran Ahmed, Country Head, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) stated that tobacco companies couldn't be considered the same as other multinational corporations as their primary goal was to make a profit from the deadly tobacco products. These products cause 8 million deaths around the world and 170,000 deaths in Pakistan each year, he added. Taking advantage of weak tobacco control policies, Malik Imran said, these companies organize campaigns which were merely publicity stunts meant to bolster their public image, disguise their deadly profit motive, and recruit young people to help spread death and disease. The vast proportion of damage caused by tobacco occurs in low and middle-income countries like Pakistan which were being targeted in this year’s competition, he warned.

Khalil Ahmed Dogar, Program Manager SPARC, stated that the devastating harm to societies and families created by tobacco-related death and disease far outweighs any prize money tobacco companies could provide. Due to cheap and easy affordability, around 1,200 Pakistani children between the ages of 6-15 years start smoking every day. He shared that during the “Battle for Health” campaign, young people had been sensitized to not participate in the tobacco industry’s campaigns. If they do, they would be helping the company market tobacco products. Khalil also urged public health officials and policymakers to use their social media channels to highlight the harms caused by tobacco products.

CEO, Chromatic Trust Shariq Mahmood Khan stressed that weaker tobacco control policies in Pakistan had allowed the companies to prey on the public’s health. Tobacco companies have used deceptive tactics, he said, to interfere with public health policies and sold deadly products online and to children near educational institutions.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2022.