Agreement between CDA, PTC draws flak

Islamabad

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) for tree plantation drive is sheer violation of Article 13 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Pakistan ratified WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005 and the Health Ministry has been making efforts to curb smoking at all levels and promote health activities among the general public.

The text of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco states, “Article 13 requires parties to undertake a comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. To be effective the ban should cover all types of tobacco advertising and promotion as well as sponsorship conducted by the tobacco industry.”

According to MoU, PTC and CDA will plant more than 800,000 trees in Islamabad in coming plantation season. The plants will also carry logo of PTC that would ultimately promote smoking trends contrary to the efforts of the government to discourage smoking among the people.

The Network Executive Coordinator Nadeem Iqbal said if a mosquito is not allowed to advertise diseases like malaria and dengue, then why is the tobacco industry allowed to promote and sell cancer in the form of tobacco products. 

It is pertinent to mention here that after signing of MoU between CDA and PTC Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf demanded complete ban on advertisement of tobacco and cigarette at all levels. 

President of Justice Helpline Muhammad Nadeem Shaikh who has challenged MoU between CDA and PTC in the Supreme Court told this correspondent that how could a civic agency sign an agreement in violation of the international accords and protocols. 

When contacted, CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid told this correspondent that PTC has its own nurseries and it provides thousands of saplings to various departments like Motorway Police. 

“There is nothing new in this agreement and even nothing objectionable because PTC will not be allowed to advertise its message or display pictures of cigarettes. It is just an attempt to plant maximum saplings to make Islamabad a green city,” he said.