>

Smoking trend among girls increasing: Experts

Smoking trend among girls increasing: Experts
Source: Photo by Anastasia Vityukova on Unsplash

ISLAMABAD: Health experts recently warned that the trend of smoking was gaining more attraction in girls than boys that needed urgent attention from the stakeholders.

The National Dialogue was recently organised under the auspices of the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) to expose the propaganda of 'Tobacco Harms and Tobacco Industry Tactic'. 

The experts in attendance at the dialogue warned about the unusual trend of smoking among girls.

However, the purpose of the dialogue was to expose the misleading campaign of the tobacco industry called 'Behtr Pakistan'.

The experts said the campaign was only propaganda of the industry that exaggerated illicit trade share so tax increase on tobacco could be avoided.

Tehseen Bajwa, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, said that due to the attracting tactics and campaigns of the tobacco industry, around 1,200 school-going children used to start smoking daily. Girls, among the children, were particularly more tempted to opt for smoking, and the number was growing at an alarming pace which was an alarming indicator, she further added.