ISLAMABAD: Public health advocates have urged for an immediate expansion of Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) on tobacco products within Pakistan.
In a statement issued by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), the activists conveyed profound apprehension regarding the devastating impact of tobacco consumption on public health, especially among children. They contend that fortified GHWs can assume an important role in diminishing tobacco usage and averting associated health problems.
The Country Head of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Malik Imran Ahmed, emphasized the urgency for the country to take immediate steps to augment the size and visibility of GHWs on tobacco products. The prevailing health warning, currently set at 60 percent, frequently goes unnoticed by consumers, including vulnerable minors, owing to its diminutive dimensions and discreet placement. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s neighboring countries, such as Nepal, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, have adopted significantly larger GHWs.
Malik Imran recommended increasing the GHW size to encompass a minimum of 85 percent of the primary display areas of cigarette packs and other tobacco products. It would guarantee that the warnings become conspicuous and easily discernible for all consumers, with special consideration for children, serving as a continuous reminder of the perils associated with tobacco consumption.
Tobacco Consumption Disastrous
The Program Manager at SPARC Dr. Khalil Ahmed Dogar, said that tobacco consumption poses a substantial threat to the health and well-being of Pakistani children. Studies have convincingly shown that Graphic Health Warnings, when meticulously crafted and prominently showcased, wield a significant influence in discouraging children and adolescents from starting smoking or resorting to other tobacco products. Nonetheless, the tobacco industry has wielded substantial influence over previous governments, preventing the implementation of more major health warnings on cigarette packaging.
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Khalil stressed that by enhancing GHWs, Pakistan has a distinctive opportunity to protect its youthful citizens from the catastrophic consequences of tobacco-related diseases, encompassing lung cancer, respiratory disorders, and heart disease.
