29 percent of Pakistanis smoke, says expert

Karachi
As many as 29 percent population smoke cigarettes in the country and this trend has been increasing owing to non implementation of laws in the country, Head of Medicine Department Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) said on Saturday.
Prof Nadeem said that about 50 percent population of the country has been consuming various tobacco products out of which 29 percent smoke cigarettes, he added that cigarettes and chewing hazardous tobacco products are more common in the urban areas of the country as compared to rural areas.
He revealed that nine percent women in the rural areas of the country are regular smokers while Sheesha smoking by female smokers in their teenage has increased rapidly in the urban areas.
The head of medicine department said usage of tobacco products in the form of Shisha and cigarettes is gaining popularity among people as tobacco companies glamorizes tobacco products sale procedures, he said consumption of cigarettes and Shisha is not only dangerous for smokers but also hazardous for the people near the smokers.
Prof Nadeem believed that smoking cigarettes had increased the incidents of lungs cancer, heart attacks, strokes, chronic coughs and other lethal diseases.
He said seven out of 10 lethal diseases are caused by smoking and other tobacco products consumption.
He reiterated that many western countries have successfully controlled the smoking menace and consumption of tobacco products by implementing strict laws Prof Nadeem stressed the need of creating awareness among general public to prevent them from diseases.