ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: There are more than 25 million smokers in the country out of which 28 per cent are youngsters. The number of youths taking up smoking every day in the country is also increasing at an alarming rate of 1,200.

These facts were revealed by Executive Coordinator, The Network for Consumer Protection, Dr Talib Lashari at a news conference here on Friday. Dr Lashari announced a country-wide advocacy and awareness campaign for introducing packing reforms regarding tobacco control in the country under the name ‘Policy Advocacy and Stakeholder Awareness Building for Packaging Reforms to Reduce Demand for Cigarettes in Pakistan’.

The project aims at introducing packaging reforms through amendments to the existing national tobacco control legislation that included Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers’ Health Ordinance, 2002, and The Cigarettes (Printing of Warning) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2002, in line with the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC).

He said an estimated 100,000 smokers died annually from tobacco-related illnesses in the country. Talking about the production of cigarettes, he said, “more than 55.3 billion cigarettes are produced every year in the country”.

In Pakistan, about 50 per cent of the population is illiterate, and among them the ratio of smokers is very high, Dr Lashari said, adding that written warnings had very little impact on the decision of these people regarding smoking.

In this context, pictorial warnings were advised in the FCTC to give a clear message to smokers as well as non-smokers about the harmful effects of smoking. In this regard, 42 picture-based cigarette warnings were prepared for the 25-member countries including Pakistan.

By now 17 countries of the world have introduced pictorial warnings on cigarette packs including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, New Zealand, Panama, Romania, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela.

He announced a series of country-wide activities aimed at influencing policymakers in the health ministry to amend the existing ordinance to include images on cigarette packs.

Talking about other planned activities, he said eight provincial seminars would be organised; the first one in this regard would be held in September in Peshawar.

Communities and people at grass-root level will be mobilised in support of the reforms so that the government would realise the need for such amendments. To mobilise the masses, a quarterly newsletter would be published, sample pictorial warnings would be prepared and shared with policymakers and Pakistan Medical Association would be requested to provide clinical evidence in support of the reforms, he added.

The project will be implemented by The Network in collaboration with six partner organisations including Tobacco Control Initiative, Ministry of Health; World Health Organisation; Health Policy Forum/Heartfile; Society for Alternative Media and Research through its Coalition for Tobacco Control; Johns Hopkins Centre for Communication Programme and Pakistan Pakistan Medical Association.

Deliberating upon the ordinance on Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance 2002, he said the main features of the law included prohibition of smoking at pubic places like airports, railway stations, hospitals, educational institutions, offices, restaurants, public transport and bus stands, except for designated areas under notification. Smoking has also been banned near educational institutions within an area of 50 metres.

However, the implementation of the Tobacco Control Ordinance was always neglected as notified officials were unable to fine people, who violated ban on smoking at public places, he added.