Civil Society Support Anti-Tobacco Legislation

The civil society organizations and medical practitioners announced all out support to the government of Khyber Pakthunkhwa for its endeavour to make necessary legislation against smokeless tobacco (naswar) and demanded strict laws against its use and selling to protect people from its dangerous health hazards. Dr Liaqat Ali, a general medical practitioner and Chest Specialist told APP that one of the causes of lung, stomach and mouth cancer is the use of naswar, which is also contributing to bronchitis, kidney, heart and other diseases. The diseases caused by naswar and paan (gutka) are more fatal than those caused by smoking, he said, adding time has come to make effective legislation to curb its use once and for all. The medical practitioners recommended for launching vigorous campaign against the use of smoke less tobaccos in pattern of smoking in print and electronic media for education of masses to combat this social ill practice. Misal Khan, a retired Government employee while commenting on the recent statement of Information Minister Khyber Pakthunkhwa for making endeavour for necessary legislation against the use of smoke less tobacco, said such legislation should have been done much before keeping in view its dangerous effects on human health. He said it was unfortunate that some people take naswar to look stylish and modern in society. “The use of naswar is a social problem and it could only be discouraged through effective legislation and creating awareness among masses.” Unfortunately, he said smoking and use of ‘naswar’ was being portrayed as part of our culture which is untrue and based on assumption. Whether it is a intoxication of tobacco, use of snuff (naswar) and paan, it should be considered a bad habit and its use as a fashion ought to be discouraged for sake of future generation. Official sources said a large number of people in Khyber Pakthunkhwa take naswar habitually.