SUKKUR (Staff Reporter): The Alternative Research Institute (ARI) and NARI Foundation Sukkur organized an awareness meeting with smokers under the “Tobacco-Free Pakistan” initiative to educate community members about the harmful effects of tobacco use and encourage them to quit smoking.
The session was attended by farmers, laborers, factory workers, and local residents.
Opening the meeting, Waheed Mahar of NARI Foundation said the organization is conducting community awareness sessions as part of the Tobacco-Free Pakistan program to increase public understanding of the health risks associated with smoking and promote healthier lifestyles.
He explained that the purpose of the session was to inform participants about the dangers of cigarette smoking and discuss practical ways to overcome tobacco addiction.
During the session, participant Kamran shared his personal experience, saying he had smoked for many years before developing serious health problems. He said doctors advised him to quit smoking completely to improve his health and enable him to lead a normal life.
Addressing the gathering, Asif Katpar said quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. He added that even long-term smokers can improve their life expectancy and overall quality of life by giving up tobacco.
Speaking on the occasion, Amjad Anwar Mahar of NARI Foundation highlighted that many countries have continuously increased cigarette prices to discourage tobacco consumption. Despite these measures, he said, many people continue to spend a considerable portion of their income on tobacco products.
He also referred to Pakistan’s Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance, 2002, noting that the law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18, requires designated smoking areas in public places, and restricts the sale of cigarettes within 50 meters of educational institutions.
He urged participants to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from the harmful effects of smoking by adopting a tobacco-free lifestyle.
At the conclusion of the awareness session, participants who smoke pledged to make sincere efforts to quit smoking completely and support initiatives promoting a healthier, smoke-free society.
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