Activities

Islamabad, 29-01-2019: Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has issued a Notification to print new Pictorial Health Warning (PHW) on cigarette packs and outers. The size of new warning has been increased from 50% to 60%. The PHW will be printed on both sides of cigarette packs and outers, manufactured in the country and imported to Pakistan. The warning will be implemented from 1st June, 2019.  The new warning depicts the disease “Gangrene”, caused by smoking.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Health Minister Aamer Mehmood Kiani said that Ministry of NHSRC is committed to reduce prevalence of tobacco use in the country. As a signatory to Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Pakistan will fulfill its international commitments by taking demand and supply reduction measures. The new warning will be effective at communicating risk and motivating behavioural changes, such as quitting or reducing cigarette consumption.

 

Islamabad, 31-08-2018: Federal Minister for National Health Services Aamer Mehmood Kiani said that tobacco use is a major cause of death in Pakistan and this Ministry will take every measure to save lives of people of Pakistan from these deadly products. The Minister took a briefing on Tobacco Control Cell in this office today.

The Minister said that coordination would be made with Ministry of Finance to raise taxes on cigarettes. He further said that Provincial Chief Ministers would be requested to ensure enforcement of tobacco control laws in particular enforcement of legislation on Pictorial Health Warning on cigarette packs. He also directed to launch awareness campaign on hazards of smoking and for promoting tobacco cessation and quitting services. He emphasized on conducting a comprehensive survey to collect data on health indicators including tobacco.

Project Manager Tobacco Control Cell (TCC) gave a detailed briefing on tobacco control situation in Pakistan. It was told that almost 24 million adults currently use tobacco in any form in Pakistan. Tobacco Control Cell (TCC) had taken measures to reduce prevalence of tobacco use in the country, in accordance with its mandate. In this regard, TCC notified new enhanced pictorial health warning on cigarette packs and outers, banned sale of loose cigarettes sticks, banned import of tobacco and non-tobacco sheesha and related substances, banned tobacco advertisement in print, electronic and outdoor media, banned cigarette packs having less than 20 cigarettes, illegalized designated smoking areas / smoking rooms, declared public places 100% smoke-free, raised awareness among masses, and built capacity of authorized persons to support enforcement

.Technical Head TCC highlighted the challenges in functioning of tobacco control in Pakistan especially availability of low-priced cigarettes. He informed that TCC had already solicited support of PEMRA for airing tobacco control messages as public service message. He also presented the way forward and future plans. He suggested to ensure implementation of legislation on pictorial health warning on cigarette packs. He further proposed to implement Tobacco Venda Act, 1958 to regulate the sale of tobacco products.

In concluding remarks, he assured that every possible measures would be taken to reduce prevalence of tobacco use in the country and save lives of people of Pakistan

.Islamabad, 31-05-2018: Federal Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, said that tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. In Pakistan, tobacco use is a cause of death of around 160,100 persons every year. Almost 23.9 million adults currently use tobacco in any form in the country. She was speaking in the award presentation ceremony held on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, 2018.

She told that this Ministry had taken numerous measures to curb the use of tobacco in the country. In this regard, enhanced size Pictorial Health Warning (PHW) to be printed on cigarette packs outers (50% from 1st June, 2018 and 60% from 1st June, 2019) were notified. Moreover, sale of loose (individual) cigarette sticks by retail seller or any individual had been banned. Import of Sheesha (tobacco and non-tobacco) and related substances had also been banned. To reduce exposure to tobacco advertisements, this Ministry banned tobacco and tobacco products advertisements in print, electronic and outdoor media.The Minister said that awareness measures had been taken to reduce the demand of tobacco products. In this connection, three mass media campaigns with the assistance of Vital Strategies had been implemented. Awareness interventions had also been carried out with the support of PEMRA / Central Film Censor Board.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohammad Assai, Head of WHO Office Pakistan appreciated the Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry on taking very important measures to reduce prevalence of tobacco use in the country. He emphasized on the “Best Buys” for an effective tobacco control in Pakistan. These he said are: Increase excise taxes and prices on tobacco products; Implement plain/standardized packaging and/or large graphic health warnings on all tobacco packages; Enact and enforce bans on  Tobacco Advertising, promotion and sponsorship; Eliminate exposure to Second Hand Smoke in all indoor workplaces, public places and public transport; Implement effective mass media campaigns that educate the public about the harms of smoking tobacco use and second hand smoke. He congratulated Mr. Waqas for the WHO Award which has been conferred upon him for his outstanding contributions towards tobacco control in Pakistan.

Mr. Muhammad Waqas Tarar thanked the WHO for its technical collaboration and contribution towards tobacco control in Pakistan. He assured that Tobacco Control Cell would take all possible measures to reduce prevalence of tobacco use in the country and save lives of people of Pakistan.

Islamabad, 09-11-2017: Complying with the directions of Senate Standing Committee, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has requested all the Federal Secretaries and provincial chief secretaries to issue necessary directions to the relevant authorities to ensure compliance with the tobacco control laws. It has also been requested to nominate and make public the name and phone number(s) of focal person(s) from all federal ministries and provincial departments who could take action on a complaint.

In letters issued to all Federal Secretaries and provincial chief secretaries, the Secretary, National Health Services has raised the issue of violations of tobacco control laws as discussed in the Senate Standing Committee meeting held on 31st October, 2017.  In this context, he quoted different sections of “The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance, 2002“. He requested to ensure that all places of public work or use and public service vehicles should be completely tobacco smoke-free. Similarly, there should be no sale of cigarettes and other smoking substance to persons under age of 18 years. Secretaries have been requested to ensure ban on sale, storage and distribution of tobacco products within and 50 meter of the educational institutions.

It has also been requested to display no smoking signs at all places of public use or work. Since all officers in BPS 20 and above in the relevant Ministries/Departments are authorized persons to take action against the violators, so all the Secretaries have been requested to issue necessary directions to the relevant authorities to ensure compliance with the tobacco control laws and make public the name and phone number(s) of focal person(s) from their ministries / departments who could take action on a complaint. It is pertinent to mention that Supreme Court of Pakistan, in Suo Moto Case on Tobacco Epidemic of Pakistan, had issued the directions to ensure compliance with “The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance, 2002”. These directions were issued to all provincial chief secretaries. Same directions were issued  by the Federal Cabinet, in its meeting held on 30th September 2016 under the chair of Prime Minister.Tobacco use is single largest preventable cause of death in the world.In Pakistan, tobacco is a cause of death of around 108,800 persons every year. This is 298 deaths per day. Enforcing existing tobacco control laws would be helpful in curbing tobacco epidemic and saving lives of people of Pakistan.

31st May, 2017: Minister, National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, said that tobacco use has devastating health consequences as it is a major barrier to development. Tobacco worsens poverty, damages health, and causes devastating social, economic, and environmental harms to the Pakistani community and the rest of the world as well. She was speaking to gathering of seminar conducted by Ministry of NHSRC and WHO to commemorate World No Tobacco Day, 2017.

She told that World No Tobacco Day, 2017 campaign focuses on development. There is a link between use of tobacco products, tobacco control and sustainable development. Globally each year, more than 7 million people die from tobacco use. This figure includes the 900,000 that die from exposure to second hand smoke. Over 80% of these deaths occur in low- or middle-income countries.Minister said that on top of health costs, country’s economy suffers when sick or dying smokers cannot work, and because smoking prevalence is much higher among men with low education and low income. In many ways, tobacco and poverty are part of a vicious cycle that deals a double blow to poor people. Money spent on tobacco means less money for necessities such as food, health care, shelter, and education, while diseases from tobacco cause the poor untold suffering and drive them deeper into poverty when bread winners fall sick or die early.She assured that Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination is fully committed with FCTC agreement to safeguard the health of citizen of Pakistan from deadly diseases caused by tobacco. It is mandatory to have participation from provincial and local governments, public, media and all stakeholders in national & subnational efforts of tobacco control to enforce and implement strategies, plans and achieve goals that prioritize action on tobacco control.Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohammad Assai, WHO Representative Pakistan said that in Pakistan, 23.9 million adults (31.8% of men, 5.8% of women) currently use tobacco in any form. Among the youth (13-15 years of age), 13.3 % boys and 6.6 % girls are current tobacco users. At global level each year, more than 7 million people die from tobacco use. He further said that over 80% of these deaths due to tobacco use occur in low- or middle-income countries. These countries bear almost 40% of the global economic cost of smoking from health expenditures (we developing countries are paying 40% cost of smoking!!!)”

Director TCC made a detailed presentation on tobacco control in Pakistan. He told that tobacco is a cause of death of around 108,800 Pakistanis every year. Almost 24 million adults currently use tobacco in any form. That accounts for 15.6 million adults who currently smoke tobacco, including 3.7 million adults using water pipes, hookah or shisha, and another 9.6 million adults who use smokeless tobacco. He said that almost 15 out of 17 SDGs are linked to tobacco control. He highlighted the measures taken by Tobacco Control Cell to control the epidemic of tobacco use.

Mr. Shahzad Alam Khan, National Professional Officer, WHO said that the use of tobacco is a real public health issue. Women and youth are the prime targets of the Tobacco industry. He lauded the steps taken by Ministry of NHSRC towards tobacco control. However, he underlined the need to raise the Federal Excise Duty to the tune of 70 % of the retail price. “A 10 % increase in tobacco taxation reduces the tobacco consumption by around 8 % in the low income countries,” he remarked. He also highlighted the importance of uniform tobacco taxation and an efficient tax administration system. He said it is high time that Pakistan should implement tracking and tracing system which would be a critical step to control illicit tobacco trade.