Call to save 1.2m lives thru tobacco harm cut strategy

LAHORE: The Initiative on Risk-reduction & Dependable Alternatives (IRADA) hosted its second roundtable discussion here on Tuesday, bringing together over 30 participants, including public health officials and experts, NGOs, medical associations, media and local stakeholders.

In a collective effort to reduce the health impact associated with cigarette smoking in Pakistan, the participants underscored the urgent need for the country to adopt effective tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategies and formulate policies accordingly, which could potentially save the lives of over 1.2 million people. During the event, researcher and policy adviser Dr Rizwan Junaid stressed the significance of THR products such as modern oral nicotine pouches, which pose significantly fewer health risks as compared to traditional cigarettes. The event further emphasised the lessons learned from countries like Sweden and New Zealand, where THR products, including nicotine pouches and snus, have led to significantly lower smoking rates. Sweden, having adopted these THR strategies, is set to become the first country to achieve smoke-free status (less than 5pc of smokers), far outperforming the EU average of 18pc.

Walk held to highlight mental health issues

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali has said that it is important to take care of mental health along with physical fitness and one should not hesitate at all while getting treatment for mental illnesses. He expressed these views while addressing the participants of an awareness walk organised by PU Centre for Clinical Psychology to mark ‘World Mental Health Day’. On this occasion, PU Director Center for Clinical Psychology Prof Dr Saima Dawood, faculty members and a large number of students were present.