Members of civil society and media have supported tobacco control advocates' efforts for legislation on comprehensive ban on Tobacco Advertisement, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS).
Addressing an advocacy meeting organized by TheNetwork for Consumer Protection, senior journalists, representatives of various non-government organisations (NGOs) and health professionals expressed their concerns at the lackluster efforts of the government to check rise in tobacco incidence in the country and demanded of the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Co-ordination (NHSRC) to immediately get the law passed by parliament.
Executive Co-ordinator of TheNetwork Nadeem Iqbal in his introductory remarks said the commitment for TAPS was made by Pakistan to the international community while ratifying FCTC in 2004. However, "we are still far from moving on it even after 10 years", he said.
In his presentation, Nadeem Iqbal drew the participants' attention towards a recent report of the State Bank of Pakistan that revealed shocking facts that Pakistanis smoked away Rs250 billion in cigarettes last year. Some 64 billion cigarettes were consumed during this period alone, he further said. Despite the Tobacco Control Law 2002 and a number of SROs issued by successive governments to control tobacco advertisement, the authorities seem helpless before the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry is using various tactics to counter government as well as civil society's efforts aimed at comprehensive ban on TAPS. On a micro-level, the tobacco industry offers various incentives and promotions to retailers in order to bring back former smokers and attract new smokers. The industry through subtle campaign and means weakens the will power of those who intend to give up smoking, he said.
However, despite these disheartening figures, there are a number of success stories too, said Nadeem Iqbal. He mentioned the Capital Administrative Development Division (CADD) initiative of 'smoke free Islamabad' which was yielding positive results. Another positive outcome is enforcement of tobacco control law in public places and vehicles and on print and electronic media too. Courts have also given some important decisions in recent past regarding ban of tobacco, he said while quoting a number of judgements. He said Pakistan was a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that was a global forum against tobacco spread. "In 2004, we had committed to implement Article 13 of the FCTC within a time period of five years; however after passage of 10 years, we are yet to implement it and lagging behind the schedule."
Similarly, the Supreme Court in 2006 took a suo motu for implementation of tobacco control laws but after initial hearing, the matter is still pending with the apex court. Smoking is continuing unabated at press clubs, bar councils and government offices, which is a challenge for the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Co-ordination and tobacco control advocates.
Dr Naureen Arshad, Project Co-ordinator, briefed the participants on the concept of MPOWER (Monitor, Protect, Offer, Warn, Enforce and Raise). This is a World Health Organisation (WHO) policy package and each signatory has to implement it in its local context, she said. So far in Pakistan, the project compliance is less than 50 percent, she said. "We are far from enforcing MPOWER in true letter and spirit and a commitment is required at public and private sector levels." Giving rationale of the model law on TAPS, Dr Naureen Arshad said despite existence of Dec 31, 2013 SRO that calls for comprehensive ban on tobacco product advertising at Point of Sale (POS) more than 77 percent violations have been reported during a recent survey. Similarly, sale of cigarettes to underage boys is more than 87.4 percent. The government is yet to raise taxes on cigarettes as per requirement of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of which Pakistan is a signatory, she said.
Senior journalist Khalid Azeem appreciating TheNetwork's initiative said the government cut a sorry figure as far as implementation on the second part of 'Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoking Act 2002' was concerned. He supported comprehensive ban on smoking in print and electronic media. Press clubs and bar councils need to be smoke-free but this requires will power and unified efforts from the journalists. Although he supported CADD's Smoke Free Islamabad initiative yet he said after Sargodha, Islamabad is a city with maximum tobacco incidence.
Giving example of the Punjab government's tobacco control laws, he said they did not give desired results. For example, according to the Punjab excise and taxation laws, licence is required for sale of cigarette. If a vendor sells cigarettes without licence, Rs100 fine is charged from him. But on the second time violation of tobacco law the amount remains the same. This shows the government's "seriousness" for tobacco control.
Journalists Shahzada Irfan and Sohail Sarfaraz shared their experiences of Conference of Parties held in Moscow on 13-18 October, 2014. The Tobacco Treaty has made significant progress, they said. At the COP6, the world showed a commitment for comprehensive ban on TAPS, they said. Several landmark decisions were adopted in the course of the six-day session and the development is regarded as one of the most successful in the WHO FCTC's history, they said.-PR
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