Civil society leaders call for stricter anti-smoking measures.

KARACHI -- Leader of the Society for the Protection of Rights of Children and anti smoking activist, Kashif Mirza has said that the tobacco industry in Pakistan is minting money at the expense of people's health and that 170,000 people die annually due to tobacco consumption. He also thanked the Federal Government for continuing with the high taxes on the industry and for not succumbing to the pressure of cigarette manufacturers.

Others who commented on the perils of smoking included journalist Hassan Bhatti and human rights activist Shumaila Muzamil who...