The Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (SPARC) organized an online discussion session on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Speaking on this year’s theme “Better Knowledge for Better Care”, anti-tobacco activists stressed upon the need to improve the understanding of tobacco smoking as a drug problem and how the improved knowledge will result in reducing its impact on health and governance. The government has no fresh data of drug users in the country as last national level survey—Drug Use in Pakistan .however it is approximately 6.7 million, 6 percent of the then total population of the country, people between the ages of 15-64 years were using any illicit drug including misuse of prescription drugs. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Pakistan (UNODC) has 6.7 million drug users. Illicit trade of tobacco is on peak as 16% of all cigarettes smoked in Pakistan are illicit, big Tobacco Companies are behind this illicit trade. Sidra Imran MPA Sindh Assembly from PTI, saidtobacco smoking not only has physical impacts but psychological impacts on human health too. Tobacco smoking is causing dementia and other serious issues. Passive smoking is deemed equally dangerous for youth and minors. She further says, This is top priority of federal govt to curb the drugs mafia and save our youth. KashifMirza, Manager Communication SPARC, said that Use of tobacco smoking in any age is first step which leads to use drugs, in youth is not a matter of personal choice anymore. The issue has become so serious that it should be looked in to immediately as a serious form of drug abuse. ShumailaMuzammil Women Rights Activist said: highlighted the need of largescale awareness campaigns. Serious efforts are required from government to eliminate this illicit trade to ensure that tobacco industry doesn’t have excuse to work with. Prof. Dr. Farah Iqbal, the Chairperson of Psychology Department at the University of Karachi, said that media and lack of governance has normalized the habit of smoking in Pakistan.
