Sukkur
The Nari Foundation has urged parents across Pakistan to play an active role in preventing their children from taking up smoking. The organization emphasized the need to establish specialized medical centers to help the country’s approximately 30 million smokers quit this harmful habit.

The appeal came during a ceremony titled “Smoke-Free Pakistan,” organized by the Nari Foundation in collaboration with the Alternative Research Initiative (ARI). The event brought together health experts, social activists, and representatives from civil society, all united in their commitment to reducing smoking rates in Pakistan.

Addressing the event, Anwar Ali Mehr, Executive Director of the Nari Foundation, said that smoking is not merely a health problem but also a serious social and economic issue that affects future generations. He stressed that medical centers dedicated to smoking cessation should be established across the country, offering counseling, rehabilitation, and awareness programs for smokers.

“Parents must take responsibility for protecting their children from tobacco addiction,” he said. “If families, communities, and institutions work together, we can turn the dream of a smoke-free Pakistan into reality.”

Shazia Jahangir, Program Manager at Nari Foundation, revealed alarming statistics: smoking-related illnesses and deaths cause an estimated annual economic loss of Rs. 615 billion to Pakistan. She said that the government should draw inspiration from successful international models, such as Sweden, which has made significant progress toward becoming a smoke-free country.

She suggested that clear regulations be introduced for less harmful alternatives, to help smokers gradually quit while ensuring that non-smokers, especially children, are protected from exposure to tobacco and related products.

Meanwhile, Haider Ali, the session facilitator, noted that although Pakistan has laws to control smoking, implementation remains weak. He emphasized that the government must enforce existing tobacco control laws, provide medical assistance, and raise awareness about less harmful alternatives to effectively curb smoking.

He added that public health campaigns, stricter enforcement of bans on smoking in public places, and community-based interventions are essential to break Pakistan’s tobacco addiction cycle.