NEWS DESK
ISLAMABAD: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) has called for an urgent increase in the size of Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) on cigarette packs from 60% to at least 80-85% of the packaging. The move aims to protect Pakistani youth from the harmful effects of tobacco addiction and reduce the country’s growing tobacco-related health burden.
Dr. Khalil Ahmad, Program Manager at SPARC, stressed that larger GHWs are a proven deterrent to tobacco consumption, especially among young people. “Almost 1,200 children aged 6-15 start smoking every day in Pakistan,” he noted, calling for immediate action to counter the tobacco industry’s deceptive marketing tactics.
Pakistan, as a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), committed to 85% GHW coverage under Article 11. However, progress has been slow. SPARC urged the government to fulfill its international obligations, noting that tobacco-related diseases claim 166,000 lives annually in Pakistan, including 31,000 from second-hand smoke exposure.
“Strengthening GHWs is a regulatory obligation and a moral responsibility,” Dr. Khalil added. “This simple step can significantly reduce smoking rates and protect future generations from addiction and disease.”
SPARC called on policymakers, health advocates, and civil society to support the initiative, emphasizing that expanding GHWs is essential for creating a healthier, tobacco-free Pakistan.
