More than 40,000 people in Pakistan die every year due to what is termed as Tobacco Smoke Pollution (TSP).
This was stated by Professor Javaid Khan, Chairman National Alliance for Tobacco Control (NATC) and Head of Chest Diseases at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).
He was addressing a seminar on smoke-free hotels and restaurants here on Saturday.
The moot was organized by the NATC in collaboration with 'Tobacco Control Cell' of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism and World Health Organization (WHO).
Speaking about the ill-effects of the `second-hand smoke' on human body, Prof Khan said that in an environment where people are smoking tobacco, inhalation of smoke is very dangerous for health as it contains toxic chemicals, including 250 well-known carcinogens.
Tobacco smoking causes serious respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, leading to premature death.
According to research, even non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke have almost 30% increased rate of heart attack and lung cancer.
Passive smoking during pregnancy can lead to low birth-weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute and chronic respiratory symptoms, and ear infections.
This is of great importance as it has been estimated that more than half of pregnant women in Pakistan are exposed to indoor involuntary smoking in one or the other.
Speaking on the occasion, Yousuf Khan, Director General, Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry of Health, said that smoking is completely banned in indoor public places and there is a fine of Rs. 1,000 to 100,000 as a penalty on those violating this ban.
He asked the provincial health departments to ensure that the smoking ban at hotels and restaurants in the province is enforced with full force.
A survey done by the NATC in major cities of Pakistan has revealed that only a handful of hotels and restaurants in the country are implementing the total ban on smoking.
