Smoking hazards

akistan has one of the highest rates of tobacco consumption in the world and all the public health issues that come with this ignominious distinction. Unfortunately, the government’s efforts to curb smoking have largely been half-hearted and ineffective. The measures taken so far have failed to produce the desired results. This seeming apathy can perhaps be attributed to the lucrative nature of the tobacco industry, which appears to have overshadowed the dire public health implications. Though a significant increase in taxation has reportedly led to a decline in cigarette demand, the overall situation remainsdeeply concerning.

There is an urgent need for the government to formulate and implement a comprehensive and robust strategy to drastically reduce smoking across the country. Smoking-related illnesses and deaths are estimated to cost Pakistan nearly Rs700 billion annually in economic and healthcare losses – roughly 1.4 per cent of the national GDP. Without decisive action, the health and economic burden of smoking will continue to escalate.

Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui

Islamabad