Tobacco.org

Commissioner promises complete ban on Gutka soon 

Commissioner Karachi Roshan Ali Sheikh has said all injurious substances would be banned in the city like tobacco, Gutka, betel nut, Pan and other items that beget cancer among humans.

He stated this while speaking as a Chief Guest at an awareness program in Sir Syed Town North Karachi on Saturday. He said it was a need of the hour to ban such items so that innocent lives could be saved from numerous diseases.

‘People are falling prey to different diseases including mouth cancer mainly due to lack of awareness,’ he said, and demanded of the Pakistan Medical Association and non-governmental organizations to come forth and collectively to stem the menace of cancer.

PMA Central Finance Secretary and ENT surgeon at Abbassi Shaheed Hospital Dr. Qaiser Sajjad said according to an estimate Gutika and such tobacco products of around 122 kinds were being sold in the city, imported and smuggled from India and other countries.

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Commissioner vows complete ban on tobacco, Gutka soon 

The city commissioner has said all injurious substances, including tobacco, Gutka, betel nut, Paan and other items will be banned in the city as these items cause cancer.

Roshan Ali Shaikh stated this while speaking as chief guest at an awareness programme in Sir Syed Town, North Karachi, on Saturday.

He said that it was the need of the hour to ban such items so that innocent lives could be saved from numerous diseases.

“People are falling prey to different diseases, including mouth cancer mainly due to lack of awareness,” he said. The commissioner demanded of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and non-governmental organisations to help in eradicating this menace from society.

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Collective efforts urged to eliminate use of gutka, chhalia 

Claiming that frequent consumption of chhalia (betel nuts), gutka and tobacco was behind the increasing cases of oral cancer, speakers at a seminar on Saturday suggested that a civil society and city administration coalition be initiated to eliminate their use in the city.

One of the speakers said that even babies were indirectly exposed to hazards due to their mothers’ consumption of gutka and mainpuri — concoctions of betel nuts, tobacco, lime, flavouring colourants, catechu and some other ingredients.

The seminar was held to mark the World Cancer Day by the administration of District Central in collaboration with a couple of nongovernmental organisations, and to highlight the hazards of gutka and mainpuri on human health.

Participants were told that Pakistan was one of the 15 countries of the world which housed two-thirds of the world tobacco users.

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WHO calls for efforts against passive smoking 

World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged governments to protect the public from exposure to secondhand smoke by implementing smoke-free air policies in all enclosed public spaces. In its call to action, WHO commemorates 10 years since the two holy cities of Makkah and MAdina were declared smoke-free by releasing the report entitled Tobacco-free cities for smoke-free air: A case study in Mecca and Medina.

This report is pivotal for other cities and countries looking to take forward their smoke-free air agenda. The success of the Mecca and Medina initiative may trigger action, particularly in the Muslim world, and thus contribute to worldwide protection from exposure to secondhand smoke, said a statement issued by the world Health Organisation (WHO) Islamabad office.

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• Cigarette company selling brand without pictorial health warning 

A local tobacco company has started selling its brand of cigarettes without printing the mandatory pictorial health warning on each pack, reflecting a serious violation law and the said manufacturer be subjected to imprisonment of up to 2 years under Section 4 of the Cigarette (Printing of Warning) Ordinance, 1979.

Sources told this scribe here on Tuesday that the civil society had expressed serious concerns over the violations by cigarette manufactures and stressed the need for effective implementation of tobacco control laws.

Professor Javed Khan, Chairman, National Alliance for Tobacco Control expressing indignation over the continuous violations of tobacco control laws opined that with the efforts of civil society, the government had formulated a law for pictorial health warning on every cigarette packet, but taking advantage of devolution of Ministry of Health after 18th Amendment, some local tobacco companies violating these laws had started selling cigarettes without mandatory pictorial health warning.

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• Tobacco laws await govt nod for implementation  

No satisfactory arrangements have been made by authorities to enforce the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Ordinance 2002 following devolution of the Health Ministry to the provinces.

According to the ordinance, sale of tobacco or tobacco products below their market value or distribution of free samples has been prohibited.

The government has also made it mandatory for tobacco companies to print health warning on cigarette packets. However, taking advantage of the devolution of the Health Ministry to the provinces after the 18th Amendment, some tobacco companies are violating the rules and regulations notified.

Recently, a tobacco company launched a promotional campaign in Mardan for their brand by offering free cigarette packets to consumers, which is a clear violation of the government rules and regulations. Earlier, in violation of government rules, a tobacco company started selling their brand of cigarettes without printing the mandatory pictorial health warning.

The devolution of the Health Ministry has encouraged some tobacco companies to violate anti-smoking laws, according to an official who was previously working with the Health Ministry.

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Mainpuri tobacco causing cancer? 

Pakistan's Sindh province is reported to have banned the "Mainpuri tambakoo". And Indian doctors and activists too are talking of an alarming rise in the number of oral cancer patients in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri district where the tobacco is manufactured.

'Mainpuri tambakoo', as the product is called, contains betel nut, camphor, tobacco, cinnamon, clove, slaked lime as its major ingredients.

"Our government is not worried and hardly anything has been done to prevent its widespread use in the area," Manoj Chaturvedi, senior journalist and activist in Mainpuri, 100 km from the Taj city, told IANS.

"The district, in view of the high incidence of oral cancer, had Uttar Pradesh's first cancer treatment centre but for want of technical hands, it's not functional. Experts say by the time it becomes operational, all the machines and equipment installed there will become obsolete," he said.

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• 'Mainpuri tambakoo' causes cancer, Pak bans product 

Pakistan's Sindh province is reported to have banned 'Mainpuri tambakoo' because of increasing number of oral cancer cases there and in Mainpuri district, Uttar Pradesh, where the product is manufactured.

The alarming phenomenon has also been noticed by doctors and activists in Uttar Pradesh. But the UP government seems to be ignoring the fact.

'Mainpuri tambakoo', contains betel nut, camphor, tobacco, cinnamon, clove and slaked lime.

"The government is not worried and hardly anything has been done to prevent the widespread use of Mainpuri tambakoo in the area," said Manoj Chaturvedi, activist in Mainpuri.

Although the district has the state's first cancer treatment centre it is hardly functional, due to scarcity of technically sound staff.

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• Restoration of Tobacco Control Cell status demanded 

The 44 partner organisations of the Coalition for Tobacco Control Pakistan (CTC-Pak) from all provinces of the country on Wednesday urged the government to restore the status of the Federal Tobacco Control Cell for the sake of effective implementation of tobacco control policies.

The demand was voiced at the 3rd national coordination meeting of coalition members. The meeting offered a platform for partner organisations of CTC-Pak to discuss policy issues and progress with reference to implementation of tobacco control laws after the devolution of powers from the federation to provinces.

The participants expressed concern over the delay in rotation of pictorial health warning on cigarette packs, which was due for implementation last year. “This delay has occurred because of shifting of the cell from one department to another after devolution. The status of the cell has been compromised and its working on tobacco control issues has been gravely undermined,” they pointed out.

The participants, through a resolution, urged the federal and provincial governments, particularly of Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, to legislate for banning the production and sale of ‘smokeless tobacco’ i.e., ‘gutka,’ ‘naswar,’ ‘manpuri,’ etc.

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• Despite law, smokers continue puffing away in eateries  

Though a law banning smoking in public places exists the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health Non-Smokers Ordinance of October 2002 – it is not enforced. The law outlines punishments for anyone advertising or selling cigarettes near educational institutions or to minors (fine of Rs5,000 or three months imprisonment). Those who smoke in public spaces or public transport can be fined Rs1,000 for the first offence and Rs100,000 for the second.

Under the ordinance, union council and tehsil officers, managers of restaurants, bus stops, train stations and airports, public transport drivers and heads of educational institutions were authorised to fine or lodge an official complaint against those smoking in public with the police. In March 2011, district officers of health, education, and revenue were told to implement the law and fine or lodge complaints against people smoking in public spaces.

But most restaurants allow some smoking.

Yousaf Aslam, who has worked at Coffee Tea and Company since 2003, says the cafe has tried various limits on smoking to satisfy its customers. “Not everyone can be satisfied,” he said. . . .

DO (Health) Haq Nawaz Bharwan was said only the Environmental Protection Department or Food Department could control smoking in restaurants. “It isn’t the job of the health department,” he said.

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Pictorial health warning on cigarette packs demanded 

The Coalition for Tobacco Control (CTC-Pak) on Wednesday expressed its concerns over the delay of the rotation of pictorial health warning on cigarette packs that was due last year.

The 44 partner organizations of CTC-Pak from all over the country urged upon the concerned authorities in its 3rd national coordination meeting of the coalition members for timely rotation of health warning.

They were of the view that the delay is because of the shifting of the cell from one department to another that has compromised the status of the cell and its effective working on the tobacco control issues. They asked the concerned bodies to restore the status of the federal Tobacco Control Cell for effective tobacco control policies and measures in the country.

The partner organizations of CTC-Pak from the four provinces discussed the policy issues and situation of the implementation of tobacco control laws after the devolution of powers from federation to provinces.

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Smoking thrills but kills  

Smoking causes a slow death which kills a person by damaging his internal organs one after another. Smokers not just harm themselves, as they also affect their co-workers, family members and others surrounding them by smoking. Passive smoking has now been directly linked with various kinds of cancer. Tobacco use continues to be the leading global cause of preventable death. . . .

Shifa International Hospitals has already launched a campaign to fight against cancer under which a string of activities including hiking, walk, soccer matches, and free resting and screening from January 22 to February 6, with an aim to create awareness among public about the disease. The Charter of Paris designated February 4 each year as World Cancer Day. The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is responsible for coordinating World Cancer Day globally. It receives support from various partners and organizations, including the WHO, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and other international bodies. The UICC organised the first World Cancer Day in 2006.

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Shisha smoking in public areas still prevalent despite ban 

Despite a resolution in the Sindh Assembly banning shisha smoking in cafes, restaurants and hotels, a large number of people can still be seen partaking in this activity in cafes located in the posh areas of Karachi.

A large number of elders and youngsters are addicted to shisha smoking. Shisha is served at most public places, including parks, gardens and cafes as well as at restaurants and coffee shops.

While some see no harm in shisha smoking, there are people who consider the activity a nuisance in public places. The News talked to mostly those people who were vocal against the trend, as the majority voiced indifference towards the issue.

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Rs200 billion go up in smoke in 2011 

Pakistan remains one of the world's leading cigarette smoking country and Pakistanis spent around Rs200 billion ($2.25 billion) on smoking in fiscal 2011 despite anti-smoking campaign by the government.

The cigarette production figures provided by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in its latest report also showed the number of cigarettes produced in 2011 increased over the sales and production of last fiscal year.

Although the official figures do not show complete production figures because a large number of unregistered factories across the country were manufacturing cheaper cigarettes to cater to the need of low-income group smokers who can't afford branded or imported cigarettes.

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Pakistanis smoke away US$2 billion 

Despite no promotional campaign, attraction for cigarettes remained stable as Pakistanis burned Rs200 billion (US$2 billion) on smoking in fiscal 2011.

The startling cigarette production figures, provided by the State Bank of Pakistan in its latest statistical bulletin, show the number of cigarettes produced in the fiscal 2011 increased over last year.

The official figures do not show complete production figures because a number of unregistered factories across the country produce low-grade cigarettes with cheaper selling prices.

The central bank reported that 54.4 billion cigarettes were produced from January to October 2011, while the num-ber was 65.40 billion during the 2010-11 financial year.

If the average price of one cigarette is Rs3 (as prices fluctuate between Rs2.5 and Rs5), the cost of 65 billion cigarettes comes to Rs195 billion.

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