ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has called for stronger legislation and enforcement measures to protect the country's population from the harms of tobacco and nicotine products in a message issued on May 31, World No Tobacco Day.

President Zardari said tobacco continues to pose "a serious threat to public health and economic well-being across the world, including Pakistan."

President Zardari stated: "The time has come that, besides other issues, our national parliament and provincial legislatures make laws and create effective enforcement mechanisms to protect our people and future generations and effectively resist the merchants of death."

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, he noted that tobacco causes "more than 7 million deaths every year worldwide, including about 1.6 million deaths from second-hand smoke exposure."

"These figures should compel us to reflect on the scale of a public health challenge that continues to affect millions of people and families," he said.

The president said that "children and young people remain particularly vulnerable" and that the tobacco and nicotine industry "continues to target younger generations through evolving products and marketing approaches designed to create and sustain addiction."

He added that "early exposure to nicotine heightens the risk of lifelong dependence and adverse health outcomes."

Vaping and e-cigarettes

Referring to recent research, President Zardari said that "the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, nicotine pouches and other nicotine products presents growing public health concerns."

He also cited "concerning patterns of poly-substance use, where tobacco and nicotine products may coexist with other harmful substances, creating serious risks for young people and communities."

"Stronger awareness, regulation and prevention efforts are essential," he said.

The president said widespread second-hand smoke exposure increases children's vulnerability to "asthma, pneumonia, ear infections, low birth weight and sudden infant death," while tobacco products are "closely linked with a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory conditions."

He said, "As your elder and as your head of state, I must tell you that this day is a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect current and future generations from the harms of tobacco products."

Call for shaping awareness

The president also said that "parents, teachers, artists, poets, singers, musicians, actors, playwrights, healthcare professionals and community leaders all have a role in shaping awareness, discouraging the use of tobacco products and creating an ecosystem to protect our people."

"Change at the household and community level can contribute meaningfully to national progress in public health," he said.

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Pakistan president calls for stronger laws on World No Tobacco Day