Smoking claims 164,000 lives every year in Pakistan and causes an annual economic loss of $6.6 billion, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report on the deadly impact of tobacco use.
The WHO released a report highlighting the severe health and economic effects of smoking in Pakistan. According to the report, tobacco use kills 164,000 people in the country every year.
The report also warns that children and young people in Pakistan are increasingly becoming addicted to smoking.
Pakistan economy losing billions
WHO said smoking causes an annual loss of $6.6 billion to Pakistan’s economy. In local currency terms, the report said tobacco use costs the Pakistani economy around Rs1,800 billion every year.
This financial loss is seven times higher than the tax collected from the tobacco industry.
According to WHO, the government collects Rs265 billion in taxes from the tobacco industry annually. However, the economic burden caused by smoking is far greater than the revenue generated from tobacco taxation.
The report recommended further increasing taxes on cigarettes to discourage smoking and reduce tobacco consumption.
Tobacco linked to major fatal diseases
The report said half of all people addicted to tobacco die from serious diseases linked to smoking. These include heart disease, cancer, lung disease and stroke.
Health experts warn that tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death.
Children and youth at growing risk
WHO expressed concern that Pakistani children and youth are increasingly being exposed to tobacco products. Globally, 40 million children between the ages of 13 and 15 start using tobacco products.
According to the report, 20 million of them smoke cigarettes, one million use snuff or similar tobacco products, while the rest use vaping products.
Millions die worldwide from tobacco
The WHO said seven million people die every year worldwide due to smoking. In addition, 1.6 million people die from the deadly effects of tobacco smoke despite not smoking themselves.
The report underlines the risks of second-hand smoke and its impact on non-smokers.
World No Tobacco Day will be observed in Pakistan on May 31. The day aims to raise awareness about the harms of smoking, second-hand smoke and tobacco addiction, while encouraging governments to take stronger action against tobacco use.
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