Smoking and all intoxications bad for health: Dr Abdul Qayyum

ISLAMABAD: Senior Executive Vice President of Pannah organization and heart specialist Dr Abdul Quyyum Awan said on Tuesday that Anti Smoking Day is very important with regard to stoppage of smoking and other intoxications as they have a bad effect on a person’s health.

In Pakistan cigarette, pan, shisha and other intoxications are leaving a very bad effect on human health and only tobacco's annual sale is more than one lakh ton, he mentioned.

Dr Awan said smoking has increased patients with heart problems, cancer and other asthma diseases which are hard to cure.

He said few years back media and games were sponsored by the smoking companies but now our organization is working marvellously against it.

"Smoking was already a big problem to tackle with but now a different kind of Shisha smoking has been introduced which itself is very dangerous for the youth as they pay visit to Shisha clubs almost every day as a trend".

Dr Awan said that it has become very difficult to stop it because most people got aware only after they suffered the first heart attack or stroke.

"We have visited schools, mosques and other institutions to create awareness among the youth about the bad effects of smoking; passive smoking also adds problems for people", he said.

Replying to a question he said the government had already passed legislation on the issue of smoking. There is a specific ordinance that deals with the issue and has a clause saying 'No smoking at public places' and there is a fixed fine for doing it publicly adding that he said "we are seeking police' cooperation to implement the ordinance".

He added "in our efforts to stop smoking, cooperation by the traffic police is very appreciating".

"We have arranged a walk today in which large numbers of transporters and traffic police personnel will be participating to create awareness on the issue.

Talking about media' role he said our organization and other volunteer organizations are working hard to dissuade peoples from smoking and other bad intoxications.

"Basic constitution of our organization is to keep in contact with those who are associated with the health issues and take precautionary measures from them and deliver alerts to the masses.

"We have been doing regular walks in the month of March at venues of Murree and Islamabad for the last 20 years as we are determined to continue our mission".

He said Bureaucracy can help in this righteous mission and said motto of Pannah.

He said parents should play their active role in preventing youth from smoking.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011