THIS is apropos of a news item, 'Pakistanis smoke away Rs200bn' (Jan 6). Out of Rs200bn spent by the public on cigarettes every year, almost Rs60bn is returned to the government in the form of various taxes. A huge amount of foreign exchange is also spent every year in importing costly medicines required to treat diseases caused by smoking.

Costs of smoking should not only be measured in rupees, but also in human lives. Tobacco use kills more than 100,000 adults in Pakistan annually 270 deaths in any single day.

Smoking is linked with several diseases including lung cancer,emphysema, strokes and heart attacks.

Our government seems to be addicted to the money generated from sale of cigarettes and is not willing to take measures that could cut down the sale of tobacco. Ours is perhaps the only country where instead of controlling tobacco use thereis a tobacco promotion board in the ministry working actively to enhance tobacco cultivation in the country.

Pakistan's tobacco industry very proudly claims that they are contributing to the country's economy.

A World Bank report says 'tobacco is not good for any country's economy.

In fact, it makes poor country evenpoorer'. A WHO message in this regard that 'the alleged economic benefits of tobacco are illusory and misleading' is also unequivocal.

A major reason for the rising sales of cigarettes in the country is that it is available at a very low cost. If our government is serious about the health of the public, it should immediately increase the cost of a cigarette pack to Rs1,000 at least. This step will certainly decrease the sales of cigarette and thus help reduce the burden of tobacco-related diseases.

PROF JAVAID KHAN National Alliance for Tobacco Control Karachi