LAHORE -UNS: As a partner organization of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) Pakistan, Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) organized a consultative workshop with the parliamentary caucus on combatting novel tobacco products in Punjab. The purpose of the workshop was to sensitize the parliamentarians about the hazards of Novel Tobacco products and deliberate on the propose legislation to ban the products in Punjab. The multi-party parliamentary caucus workshop was attended by the members of provincial assembly Punjab belonging to PTI, PMLN and PPP.
Malik Imran Ahmed, Country representative, CTFK, Pakistan shed light on increasing emergence and detrimental effects of novel tobacco products by stating that every day around 1200 children aged 13-15 begin smoking and this is due to the smart marketing and advertisement strategies of the tobacco industry whereby, a pack of cigarettes in a shop is placed adjacent to chocolates and candies to make sure that children fall prey to this menace. This claim, he said, was further endorsed by the leaked documents of tobacco industry, presented in the American Senate Committee, which had categorically mentioned children as the long-term replacement customers for the 173,000 deaths that cigarette smoking and this industry is responsible for, every year, in Pakistan. Therefore, Malik Imran asked for a comprehensive, holistic definition of novel tobacco products in the draft bill so that even if new products, with new names or new packaging emerge in the market, they can be tackled effectively with a ban, be unable to escape from rule of law and be unable to harm the health of youth of Pakistan.
He mentioned that in Pakistan instead of banning such harmful products, every day, a new product is not only launched but also actively advertised. It was also highlighted that in the past, the Supreme Court of Pakistan banned “shisha” in all public places which is why one can never see the ostensible existence of such shisha cafes. However, the smokeless nicotine products such as “velo” are not only openly present in the market but are also attractively packaged to grab the attention of young children and youth. Moreover, he mentioned that these nicotine pouches are pocket friendly and can be bought in just PKR 100-120 thereby, making them a rather economical deal for the youngsters.
The law draft was then presented to the parliamentarians to gain their valuable input and to refine the definition in order to give it the best shape possible. All the parliamentarians assured their continued support with regards to controlling novel tobacco products. The parliamentarians also unanimously showed their commitment towards presenting the bill in Punjab Assembly and to continue their efforts in getting the bill passed to ensure timely ban on such products in Pakistan.
At the end of the session Syed Kausar Abbas, executive director SSDO while thanking the participants emphasized on the early passage of the bill to ban the novel tobacco products. He said that to protect our youth, we need to create awareness about the hazards of novel products. Also not only the legislation should be passed to ban its production, sale and advertisement but also need to implement the ban in latter and spirit.
