Curbing tobacco use: Zardari urges renewed national, global action

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has issued a strong public health message on World No Tobacco Day, urging renewed national and global action to curb tobacco use and protect future generations from what he described as a continuing and evolving health threat.

In his message, the President highlighted that despite centuries of awareness about the dangers of tobacco and decades of regulatory efforts worldwide, tobacco consumption remains a major global health challenge, including in Pakistan.

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Citing estimates from the World Health Organization (World Health Organization), he said that tobacco use causes more than 7 million deaths annually worldwide, including around 1.6 million deaths linked to second-hand smoke exposure. He said these figures reflect the “scale of a public health crisis affecting millions of families.”

The President expressed particular concern about the vulnerability of children and young people, warning that tobacco and nicotine industries continue to target younger populations through new products such as e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and nicotine pouches. He said early exposure significantly increases the risk of lifelong addiction and long-term health complications.

He also drew attention to growing evidence of poly-substance use involving nicotine products and other harmful substances, calling it a “serious emerging risk” for youth and communities that requires stronger prevention and regulation.

Highlighting health impacts, President Zardari said tobacco use is strongly linked to major non-communicable diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses. He stressed that second-hand smoke exposure contributes to childhood illnesses such as asthma, pneumonia, ear infections, low birth weight, and even sudden infant death.

Beyond health effects, he warned of the broader social and economic burden on families, noting that illness among working-age adults often leads to repeated medical costs, loss of income, and financial strain that disrupts household stability and children’s education.

Calling tobacco control a shared national responsibility, the President urged Pakistan’s parliament and provincial legislatures to strengthen laws and enforcement mechanisms against tobacco use and marketing. He emphasized the need to “effectively resist the merchants of death,” referring to the tobacco industry.

He also called on civil society, including parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, and cultural figures such as artists, writers, and musicians, to play an active role in raising awareness and discouraging tobacco use at the community level.

“As your elder and as your head of state,” he said, “this day is a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect current and future generations from the harms of tobacco products.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026