Experts for banning advertisements of tobacco products.

ISLAMABAD -- Novel tobacco products are becoming increasingly popular in Pakistani youth due to the extensive social media marketing and advertisement campaigns by tobacco industry. These so called 'less' harmful products pose immense danger to the public health and if the government doesn't ban these products, Pakistan's health system will suffer unprecedented damage, said in a press release issued here on Wednesday.

These thoughts were shared by health experts in a joint press released shared by Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) to divert federal cabinets attention towards the alarmingly increase in the use of nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes and vapes, etc.

Malik Imran Ahmed, Country head, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, mentioned that tobacco products have been freely available in markets and unfortunately in Pakistan tobacco control doesn't go beyond cigarettes and Gutka. The alternative products have been in Pakistani market for several years now but there has been no policy or legislation to control and monitor their sales, promotion and advertisement.

Stressing upon the need of ban; Imran mentioned that the claim of 'less' harmful is big lie because every year around 170,000 precious lives are lost in Pakistan due to tobacco induced diseases such as cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular disease. So even if we believe the lie that alternative products are 'less' harmful, the damage done will still be significant. Imran also said that it is fallacious to believe that tobacco companies which are directly responsible for loss of millions of lives around the world will...