PESHAWAR - Speakers at a seminar have disclosed that 0.1 million people died due to various ailments caused by tobacco-cum-passive smoking in the country and underscored the need for strict implementation of anti-smoking laws to save precious lives and reduce the death ratio.
Shoukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) Director, Dr Azhar Shafi said that 0.1 million people in the country fall victims of tobacco-cum-passive smoking every year and called for strict implementation of anti-smoking laws to reduce death ratio with great extent.
He expressed these views while addressing a function held in connection with World NO Tobacco Day here at Sarhad University.
Besides, Organiser, Shoukat Khanum Memorial Trust, Mirza Rizwan Baig, Vice Chancellor, Sarhad University, Professor Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Registrar, Mohammad Nasir, a large number of students also attended.
On this occasion, Dr Azhar Shafi termed the smoking of tobacco in open places a big crime and stressed the students to discourage tobacco smokers through advocacy campaigns. He argued that passive smoking was more injurious for human lives than environmental pollution.
The effects of passive smoking have estimated 600,000 deaths every year in the world and one-third of those killed are children often exposed to smoke at home.
Dr Azhar said that the victims are included 90 per cent those who had diagnosed lungs diseases due to smoking. Similarly, he said that heart diseases are also due to heavy smoking. However, he said that these death could be reduced by taking strict action against those smoking in public places.
The official of the Shoukat Khanum Memorial Hospital also called for launching special advertisement for education of youth. Dr. Azhar Shafi said the use of Sheesha is very fatal for health as its taking for only one hour is more injurious than the smoking of thousands of cigarettes.