Karachi school-girls in the grip of smoking epidemic

Smoking among Karachi school-girls is on the rise with 16% girls being smokers, a recent research has revealed.

Prof Nadeem Rizvi, Head of Chest Diseases Jinnah Postgraduate Medical (JPMC ) and President Pakistan Chest Society conducted the research on girls’ smoking habits.

He said women and girls form a susceptible target group for the tobacco industry as they perpetually need new users to replace nearly half of the current users who die prematurely from tobacco-induced diseases.

Rizvi demanded that all forms of direct or indirect marketing of tobacco products must be banned.

How can we allow promotion of a product which is responsible for 100,000 deaths annually in the country, he questioned.

He also highlighted the issue of the doctor’s moral responsibility to educate the public so they can make better health choices.

Rizvi drew attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing that is targeted towards women and girls.