ISLAMABAD: Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), in connection with the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), arranged a walk on Tuesday to raise awareness against the increasing use of tobacco products in the country.
PANAH General Secretary and Director Operations Sanaullah Ghumman led the walk attended by a large number of students and teachers from different educational institutions.
They termed the tobacco a “poison” and appealed to the government to take effective measures to control its increasing use in the country.
“Tobacco has been impacting our society especially the youth very badly. Students, who use tobacco in any shape, are more vulnerable to drug addiction. To set Pakistan on the path to development and prosperity, curbing tobacco products is of paramount importance, ” said one of the students.
Sanaullah Ghumman said PANAH had been educating the people for 39 years about many deadly diseases including heart diseases and their causes.
“On World No Tobacco Day, I want to send a message to our young generation that tobacco is the first step towards addiction, and when buying any tobacco product is tantamount to buying diseases by spending our own money. I request you to stop tobacco products from your life, so that we could lay the foundations of a healthy society, ” he remarked.
He urged the government to increase the tax on tobacco products by 30 per cent in accordance with the recommendations of the World Bank to discourage their use.
“This will be a win-win situation for us as it will not only reduce the burden of healthcare system but also significantly increase the revenue, ” he added.