Prof Al-Fareed Zafar Warns Against Smoking Epidemic

Smoking, the second leading cause of death globally, poses a significant threat to public health. Tobacco smoke contains more than 60 cancer-causing substances, leading to various cancers such as lung, mouth, nose, and throat cancers. In Pakistan, over 200,000 lives are lost annually due to smoking-related illnesses.

According to Prof Al-Fareed Zafar, the Principal of the Postgraduate Medical Institute, a worrying trend shows that approximately 1,200 to 1,500 children under 18 years old start smoking each year in Pakistan. This alarming statistic could result in a surge of heart and lung diseases in the country. The number of smokers in Pakistan has risen sharply, with an estimated 30 million individuals addicted to smoking cigarettes.

Prof Al-Fareed highlighted the grim reality that smokers typically die 15 years earlier than their average life expectancy. Each cigarette smoked reduces life expectancy by 8 minutes due to the presence of over 4,000 harmful components. Globally, millions of people succumb to fatal diseases like heart and lung cancer annually due to smoking. The adverse effects of smoking, including mouth cancer, lung cancer, heart diseases, strokes, and diabetes, are on the rise.

It is imperative to educate the public about the dangers of smoking and consider raising prices to discourage this harmful habit. By raising awareness and implementing effective measures, we can strive towards a healthier, smoke-free future for Pakistan.