ISLAMABAD (APP/STAFF REPORTER) - The World No Tobacco Day will be marked today to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2013 is "Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship". Pakistan becomes one of the top 15 countries of the world having maximum use of tobacco.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of mortality. The global tobacco smoking will cause the life of nearly six million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are people exposed to second-hand smoke. Unless we act quickly, it will cause the lives of up to eight million people by 2030, of which more than 80 per cent smokers live in low-and middle-income countries.
On May 15, 1987 the WHO passed a resolution, calling for April 7, 1988, to be the first World No Smoking Day. This date was chosen because it was the 40th anniversary of the World Health Organization. On May 17, 1989, the World Health Organization passed a resolution calling for May 31 to be annually known as World No Tobacco Day. This event has been observed each year since 1989.
Tobacco Control Executive Coordinator Nadeem Iqbal said that use of tobacco kills an estimated 100,000 people each year in Pakistan.
The concerned authorities should taken steps to control this menace from society and also implement the tobacco laws. He said smoking causes chest infection, heart diseases, lungs problem and cancer.
A smoker can inhale 15 per cent of tobacco in his body and give 85 per cent to the environment. Tobacco companies mostly select countries having majority population of youth to get maximum sale targets.
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death globally and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide.
The ultimate goal of World No Tobacco Day is to contribute to protect present and future generations not only from these devastating health consequences, but also against the social, environmental and economic scourges of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has decided to launch a special awareness campaign against tobacco use in the city besides ensuring implementation on anti-smoking laws.
It was told by Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Amer Ali Ahmed during a meeting here on Wednesday also attended among others by representatives of various departments involved in the implementation of anti-tobacco law.
During this campaign being initiated in collaboration with Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), the Anti-Tobacco Cell would distribute banners, pamphlets and other material among the public and transporters against smoking at public places.