CTC Launches Observation Report On Tobacco Control Laws

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2017 ) : The partners of Coalition for Tobacco Control-Pakistan (CTC-Pak) Thursday launched the observation report providing insights on compliance statuses of various sections of the national tobacco control laws both at the national and provincial levels.

The report launched simultaneously by CTC-Pak at Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi, was also officially presented to the Federal Tobacco Control Cell, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination during the launching ceremony.

The report said tobacco control is progressing in Pakistan as there have been good policies and laws introduced adopted since the early 50s to bring coherency according to national and international obligations.

The sale of cigarettes to minors remains high nationwide as the tobacco industry adopted youth focused marketing tools for reaching out for its businesses despite the implementation of national tobacco control laws.

The overall data received showed generally higher compliance of the laws in most areas. The results indicate advertisements and youth focused marketing as main tools of the tobacco industry to reach general population including the youth.

The report contains the results of observations carried out during the last quarter of 2016 by coalition partners in 23 cities and 18 districts of Pakistan. The partners of the coalition were trained and asked to carry out this observations in their areas where coalition partners visited public places including restaurants, offices, banks, public transport vehicles, commercial areas, cigarette selling outlets and educational institutions in their respective cities through a randomized protocol.

Khuram Hashmi form CTC-Pak said, "We hope the information provided in the report will contribute to the existing national database on tobacco control in Pakistan assisting the authorities not only in enforcement of laws efficiently but also providing the tobacco control advocates with an insight to better implementation of tobacco control strategies." He said despite the misleading claims of the tobacco industry, tobacco use, especially among youth is rising at alarming level.

He said cheap and easy availability of open cigarettes makes the children an easy target for increasing tobacco industry sales.