In a dialogue organized by the Society for Protection of Child Rights (SPARC), health social workers expressed concern that the federal cabinet has decided to regularize modern tobacco devices, namely heated tobacco products H-T-P. RO has been approved. According to tobacco control activists and health experts, this decision will put Pakistani children at grave risk.
Malik Imran Ahmed, Country Head, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK), said the decision will help legalize other tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. This decision will encourage children and women between the ages of 13-15 years to start using tobacco due to its easy availability, which in turn will cause more diseases and deaths. Approximately 170,000 people die annually in Pakistan due to tobacco-related diseases. Tobacco use has become an epidemic in Pakistan and more than 31 million people use some form of tobacco. If no action is taken against this industry that is trying to destroy the future of our children, more Pakistani children will fall victim to tobacco and become addicted to it.
Dr. Ziauddin Islam, Country Lead, Vital Strategies, expressed that nicotine-based products launched by the tobacco industry are addictive and can pose long-term health risks to young consumers. These products attract the attention of children due to their extensive online presence and advertising campaigns. He said that the health burden due to non-communicable diseases caused by tobacco has increased and allowing advanced products will increase the cost of health care which is disastrous for the economy.
Khalil Ahmad Dogar, Program Manager Spark said that securing the health and future of Pakistani children should be the government's top priority at a time when our economy and health system are struggling. Pakistan can learn from the example of New Zealand, which has become the first country to implement successive annual increases in the legal smoking age. Similar long-term planning is needed to protect our future generations from the harms of tobacco.
