Tobacco Takes 170,000 Lives Annually

News Desk

Islamabad: Around 170,000 people die due to tobacco-related diseases annually; meanwhile, the market share of novel products is staggering at $32 billion, large enough to peddle influence and spread the reach.

The hazards of novel tobacco products are much worse than perceived by the young generation; hence, there should be strict regulations to control their spread, stated speakers at the SSDO Workshop.

The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), in collaboration with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, conducted a two-day training workshop on September 1 for government officials, former parliamentarians, and journalists on the hazards of novel tobacco products at Murree.

SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas said that the objective of the workshop is to create awareness and also to engage all parliamentarians, media, civil societies, and law enforcement, which is important to control the wide and uncontrolled spread of nicotine tobacco products.

Kausar Abbas emphasised that endorsements from celebrities about Velo and other nicotine products must be discouraged, and the outlets where these products are sold must be scrutinized.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) Country Representative Malik Imran Ahmed dispelled the myth that novel nicotine products are less harmful and said that along with nicotine, chemicals like glycerides and others are extremely detrimental to health.

The line between regulation and banning is blurry and needs better understanding to reach a fruitful result, Malik Imran added.

Ahmed asserted that collective partnership is the need of the hour, and people who have influence and social clout can play an important role in spreading the word.

Senior Consultant Dr Ziauddin asserts that Islam gave a detailed overview of the health hazards of novel tobacco products and that the health cost that any consumer has to pay is ever-increasing.

Dr Ziauddin mentioned that their targeted and desired consumers are the youth, who are ill-informed.

After increasing the tobacco tax, Pakistan is getting around 175 billion rupees in tax, while the health burden on the government is more than 650 billion rupees, said health expert.

Dr Zia also pointed out that the major misconception among the public is the blurred line between active and passive smokers. The pollutants that are exhaled out in the open are equally harmful to the health and the social environment.

The participants unanimously agreed that these new emerging nicotine products should be brought under strict regulations, and legislation or notification should be issued by the government to ban these products immediately to control their spread.

In the meantime, well-thought-out legislation should be drafted and presented before the new parliament.