President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasized the importance of stronger awareness, regulation and prevention efforts to curb the use of tobacco.

In a message on the World No Tobacco Day, the President said this day reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect current and future generations from the harms of tobacco products.

The President said the World Health Organization estimates that tobacco causes more than 7 million deaths every year worldwide, including about 1.6 million deaths from second-hand smoke exposure.

He said successive governments around the world, working with civil society, have taken a range of measures through regulation and awareness to reduce tobacco use. 

Asif Ali Zardari said the time has come that besides other issues, our national parliament and provincial legislatures make laws and create effective enforcement mechanisms to protect our people and future generations and effectively resist the merchants of death.

He said change at the household and community level can contribute meaningfully to national progress in public health.