Up in smoke: ‘Tobacco controls falter with lack of implementation’

Participants asked government to initiate a vigorous campaign against shisha smoking, ghutka, main puri and betel nut.

PESHAWAR:

Failing to control the increasing use of tobacco in younger generations is mainly due to the poor implementation of relevant laws, according to participants of a seminar titled “Strengthening Tobacco Control Activities”.

The seminar, arranged by the Human Rights Development Organisation (HRDO) in collaboration with the Federal Health Ministry and Tobacco Control Cell (TCC), was held at the Peshawar Press Club on Friday.

Speakers included Assistant Commissioner Peshawar Asad Haroon, TCC Deputy Project Director Dr Ziauddin Islam, HRDO General Secretary Shakeel Khan, Provincial Coordinator Ajmal Shah, and traders union representative Shams Khan.

The speakers asked the government to take practical steps to control the consumption of tobacco. They particularly condemned the underage sale of cigarettes. Additionally, they suggested a special cell be established to ensure the strict implementation of tobacco control laws in the province.



The participants further asked the government to initiate a vigorous campaign against shisha smoking, ghutka, main puri and betel nut. They stressed the need for a concerted effort to keep the youth away from cigarette and shisha smoking.

While giving a detail presentation TCC Deputy Project Director Dr Ziauddin Islam said the situation was quite alarming as the number of tobacco users in the country was increasing every year. In Pakistan more than 1,200 children between the ages of six and 15 start consuming tobacco every day, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2013.