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Tobacco free Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Speakers on Wednesday urged to put in place a long-term national programme to consolidate and build upon the tobacco control initiatives to curb smoking.
They were addressing a roundtable discussion on a proposed ten-year national programme for tobacco control in Pakistan, organized by the Coalition for Tobacco Control Pakistan (CTC-Pak).
The event was attended by representatives from the government, Tobacco Control Cell, The Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Nausheen Hamid, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said the government is committed to a healthy Pakistan. She added as protecting youth from tobacco use was a government priority, it was ready to work with the civil society for tobacco control in the country.
Khurram Hashmi, the National Coordinator of CTC-Pakistan, presented the salient features of the proposed programme. He said that CTC-Pakistan, a coalition of 263 CBOs and NGOs, works to strengthen the development and implementation of policies based on the provisions of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) through advocacy campaigns and acting as a technical resource for the Ministry of National Health Services.
The participants reviewed the gains and challenges in the fight for tobacco control in Pakistan. These included the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance 2002, the ratification of FCTC along with a ban on smoking in public places, public vehicles, on the sale of cigarettes to minors, tobacco advertisements, import of shisha etc. However the prevalence of cigarette smoking remains a challenge, they added.
During the discussion, it was agreed that the Tobacco Control Cell under the federal Health Ministry should lead for the long term national programme.
It was felt that the cell’s efforts for tobacco control should be backed by financial sustainability.
It was pointed out that apart from the funds allocation at the federal level, the cell should make efforts to generate funds by collaborating with the tobacco control advocates around the globe.
The participants termed the role of provinces critical for tobacco control efforts, maintaining that strong coordination between the federal and provincial government can boost initiatives for a tobacco-free Pakistan.

 

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.