KARACHI: Pakistan with one of the highest rates of oral cancer in the world needs an urgent and pragmatic approach to impose absolute ban on hazardous items including "Gutka" and other bi- products of tobacco.
Office-earers of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) in a joint statement taking strong exception to steady surge in the number of oral cancers patients, mainly comprising youngsters, in different parts of the country particularly Karachi said the situation does not allow any complacency at any level.
They also regretted that Pakistan despite being one of the 190 signatories of the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2004, has failed to control the menace readily available in form of Gutka, mainpuri and the likes.
"These hazardous products are being sold like candies and toffee in every nook and corner of our cities," commented the PIMA officials.
Prof. Muhammad Afzal Mian (Central president of PIMA), Prof. Khubaib Shahid (General Secretary) and its former president Prof. Sohail Akhtar were unanimous in their opinion that absolute will was required to protect life quality of the country's youth exposed to serious threat due to easy availability of Gutka and other concoctions of chemical based bi-products of tobacco.
Highly appreciative of the Sindh High Court (SHC) judges for taking suo-motto notice of the threat they urged other decision making bodies to dismiss plea adopted by gutka, mainpuri manufacturers that nay ban on their business would render hundreds of families jobless.
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