Helping hands
February 13, 2021
Over the last two days, I have received SMSes from the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) that warn about the dangers of smoking and inform people that smoking in public places is a punishable offence. Through these messages, the authorities aim at encouraging people to stop smoking. Although it is a positive initiative, it can’t help create a smoke-free environment. In Pakistan, only less than three percent smokers successfully give up smoking in a year. It is mainly because smoking cessation programmes in the country are extremely limited in their scope and availability. There is one smoking cessation clinic at the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicines in Islamabad. But smoking is not limited to the capital of the country. If the healthcare authorities are serious about controlling the use of tobacco, they should expand smoking cessation programmes and make them accessible. All such messages sho