Director Tobacco Control, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (MoNHSRC) Dr. Samra Mazhar has said that tobacco kills 438 Pakistani every day whereas around 5,000 Pakistanis were being admitted to hospitals every day because of tobacco use and it was a matter of grave concerns that 1200 Pakistani children between the ages of 6 and 15 years also begin smoking every day which was very alarming and requires collective efforts along with intense awareness campaigns at all levels.
While delivering a presentation during her visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, she added that the Ministry of Health has taken numerous initiatives, particularly the smoke-free cities initiative, which have yielded positive results and if current trends continue, the voluntary target of 30 percent reduction was likely to be achieved by Pakistan in 2025.
President KCCI Muhammad Idrees, Vice President KCCI Qazi Zahid Hussain, Chairman Health & Education Subcommittee Jawed Siddiq Mittiwala and KCCI Managing Committee Members along with MoNHSRC officials were also present on the occasion.
Appreciating the support and cooperation extended by Karachi Chamber, Dr. Samra informed that KCCI, after collaborating with Ministry of Health and supporting tobacco smoking free cities project, has become 538th tobacco free facility. She further advised KCCI to sign an MoU with Ministry of Health so that KCCI’s most effective platform could be utilized for raising awareness and promoting other initiatives with a view to create a smoking-free society.
She said that in order to make smoke free Karachi initiative successful, mega awareness campaigns have to be supported and the members of the business community must also be advised to follow tobacco control laws.
Highlighting some of the achievements, she particularly mentioned that a tobacco control desk has been established at Commissioner Karachi Office and a notification about the establishment of Karachi Implementation and Monitoring Committee (KIMC) under the Chairmanship of Commissioner Karachi has also been issued. Moreover, tobacco control cells at Karachi’s South and East Districts have also been established whereas eight major universities/ organizations have signed Letter of Intent (LoI) for smoke free Karachi, she added.
Earlier, President KCCI Muhammad Idrees, in his remarks, expressed deep concerns over non-implementation of Section 8 and Section 9 of ‘Prohibition of Smoking & Protection of Non-Smokers’ Health Ordinance 2002′ wherein sale to minors under 18 years was prohibited and sale within 50 meters of teaching institutes was also forbidden. “Although the laws are there but the implementation was nowhere found which is really worrisome and needs special attention.”
While agreeing of having an MoU between KCCI and Ministry of Health, President KCCI further suggested to jointly organize ‘Walk for a Cause’ event to be largely attended by the citizens and members of the business community with a view to raise awareness about smoking hazards.
He noted that Pakistan ranks as one of the countries with high rates of tobacco consumption and the diseases associated with tobacco use. Almost one in five adults in the country use tobacco in some form, which translates into 25 million adults currently. “We should also enhance our focus on creating awareness to save our youth from the menace of tobacco addiction and related diseases”, he added.
CAPTION:
President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Muhammad Idrees presenting crest to Director Tobacco Control, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (MoNHSRC) Dr. Samra Mazhar during her visit to KCCI. Vice President KCCI Qazi Zahid Hussain, Chairman Health & Education Subcommittee KCCI Jawed Siddiq Mittiwala, KCCI Managing Committee Members are other are also seen in the picture.