KARACHI - Doctors on Wednesday registered their serious concern about the growing popularity of cigarette smoking among women in the country amidst extremely aggressive marketing tactics of cigarette industry.

Prof Javaid A Khan (Aga Khan University), Prof. Nadeem Rizvi (Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre), Dr. Shaheen Qayyum (Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases), Dr. Mirza Saifullah Baig (Dow University of Health Sciences) addressing a seminar organized to observe No Tobacco Day regretted lack of political will in the country against a menace that was condemned in all parts of the world. “Is not this ironical that cigarettes are available in our country at the cheapest rates compared to all other countries including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,” said Dr Javiad A Khan.
“While five cigarettes could be purchased for Rs 10 a single roti (bread) costs a man Rs seven to eight,” he said.
The pulmonologist referred to a study showing 16.3 percent prevalence of cigarette smoking among girl students of local colleges adding that this was besides their indulgence in shisha smoking and consumption of pan masala, gutka etc.
Dr Shaheena Qayyum said the tobacco industry, particularly cigarette producers were focussing more on Pakistan women, most probably due to their increasing power to purchase.
She demanded all out efforts by the society in general to sensitize women, besides people in general about severe implications of tobacco consumption in any form.
The senior researcher strongly recommended that tobacco prevention and cessation program must be integrated into national and provincial healthcare schemes at every level.
These must also be introduced at every mother and child care clinic run in the government and private facilities so as to sensitize women about its implication on their general wellbeing, reproductive health as well on the health of babies conceived by them and born by them.