IN Pakistan the majority of the
population is illiterate, only text-based health warnings are printed on
cigarette packs. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the
public is well informed of the hazardous affects of tobacco use.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that warnings containing
both pictures and words should be printed on cigarette packs because they are
the most effective at convincing people to quit and reduce tobacco use.
The government of Pakistan signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control in 2004 where it agreed to incorporate effective health warnings into
the domestic legislation.
After the latest relaxation allowed to the tobacco industry, picture-based
warnings will now appear with effect from May 31, 2010, rather than the delayed
Feb 1, 2010 deadline, and the earlier Jan 1, 2010 deadline announced on the
occasion of World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2009.
It shows that the ministry of health has again delayed introduction of pictorial
warnings on cigarette packs and the tobacco industry has influenced decision
makers to stall the decision.
Ever since May 31, 2009, the Tobacco industry in Pakistan has demanded extension
of the deadline for printing of pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs and
exhaustion of the current stock from the market.
This action by the legislature and the government would set back the nationwide
tobacco-control effort, giving the industry enough time to gain profit in the
name of exhaustion of existing stocks from the market.
Tobacco companies are spending more than ever to have their permanent customer
base expand for decades, especially where youths are concerned.
In my view, this is the price we are paying for relying on cigarette tax
revenue. It is a fact that our country needs the money and our government became
a puppet of the industry at the expense of public health.
I urge the ministry of health to introduce pictorial health warnings on tobacco
products urgently.