Karachi: Registrar Dow University of Sciences Dr. Ashar Afaq has said that 1.2 million people are dying globally due to involuntary smoking of cigarette smoke. The number of smokers are more than 8 million. A deliberate smoker does not realize it, but those who do not have the habit of smoking are affected due to lack of awareness. He shared his thoughts while addressing the participants of the walk held on World No Tobacco Day (May 31) at Dow Medical College. Principal Dow Medical College Professor Saba Sohail, Deputy Director Health Services Karachi Dr. Israr Ahmed, Coordinator Tobacco Control Tanveer Qaim Khani, Bilal Zafar, Marketing Manager DUHS Umair Zafar and a large number of teachers and students participated in the walk. Registrar Dr. Ashar Afaq said that Dow University has been officially declared as a no-smoking zone and the anti-smoking rules are strictly enforced in this regard. Principal Dow Medical College Professor Saba Sohail said that smoking is harmful to our health and environment. Its use can also cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Deputy Director of Health Services Karachi Dr. Israr Ahmad said that smoking increases the risk of contracting the deadly disease i.e. TB, apart from eye diseases, immune system problems and joint swelling can also occur. The participants walked from the Arag Auditorium to the Administration Block.
Speakers said that this day is celebrated to create awareness about the harm caused by smoking. According to the report issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), 22.3% of the world’s population uses tobacco, while 39% of the total male population and 9% of the total female population of the world use tobacco. According to this report, the number of tobacco users in Pakistan is over 18 million, making it the eleventh largest consumer market for tobacco in the world. Experts said in their address that more than 210,000 people die from smoking-related diseases in Pakistan every year.
According to medical experts, for puffing a cigarette, a smoker reduces his physical age by five to eleven minutes. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of twelve types of cancer, including lung, throat, mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, stomach, colon, liver and kidney cancer. WHO data shows that 4,500 billion used cigarette filters are thrown into the trash each year, creating 1.69 billion pounds of toxic chemical waste.
