By: Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, January 17th 2019: Civil society organisations; Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), Human Development Foundation (HDF) and Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) organized an awareness raising rally on “Children as soft targets of tobacco industry” here on Thursday, 17 January, 2019 at D-Chowk Islamabad.
The walk attended by students of different schools, started from State Life building and ended at D-Chowk
The students of various schools, Social Activists, civil society members and journalists participated in an awareness rally in D-Chowk. The Protesters were holding banners, posters and placards inscribed with slogans.
Addressing to protestors Sajjad Ahmad Cheema Executive Director SPARC, said the purpose of organizing the rally is to create awareness among children as soft targets of tobacco industry.
He added, the sale of cigarettes to minors and near educational institutions remains a constant worry in the country. Tobacco advertisements and youth-focused marketing tactics are one of the main tools of Tobacco Industry to reach out younger consumers. These tactics is increasing new tobacco consumers and generating maximum profit for tobacco industry. H referred to the SPARC’s recent research report Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets that around 1,500 youngsters starting smoking everyday in the country, which is very alarming situation. Further research explains that tobacco products displayed at tobacco sales points near schools at child eye level (01 Meter) within the capital territory. “Eye level is a buy level for children: Display of tobacco products was 95 percent on the tobacco sales points within the Islamabad.
Executive Director, demanded the government to increase more taxes on cigarettes to reduce cigarette affordability; harmonize all taxes across tobacco products; and fully implement the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Tobacco Trade, particularly the measures for supply chain control, implement tobacco vender license, tracking and tracing of tobacco production and sales, align the Protocol with the legislation on prosecutions and sanctions for tax evasion.
Protesters further demanded, Pakistan’s health authorities should be reactive efforts towards monitoring and curbing tobacco to reverse the country’s tobacco epidemic. Collaborative activities like anti-smoking education, introduce tobacco smoke-free policies, increase the price of cigarettes, display warning pictures and health hazardous pub smoking publically, introduce new tobacco control legislation, raise tobacco taxes, complete ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, create awareness among citizens regarding negative effects of smoking, implementation of tobacco control laws, development of a national coordinating mechanism, establishment of a federal enforcement committee, establishment of a technical advisory group, National Action plan for Enforcement, Provincial Tobacco Control Cells should be set up and with support for implementation of the Bloomberg Initiative Grants Program.