Pakistan Tobacco stuns critics with advertising ban

A News item from Business Respect, Issue Number 47, dated 11 Jan 2003

Health activists have attacked Pakistan Tobacco for its move to halt advertising in the electronic media, which they say is a cynical measure aimed at scoring social-responsibility points to dodge tougher regulation.

Pakistan Tobacco, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, said that it had decided not to use television and radio advertisements in response to "the reasonable expectations of society".

"Many people, including parents, are concerned about the influence of advertising on children (and not just tobacco advertising), even though there is ample evidence to suggest that tobacco advertising is not the main cause in the decision of adults or youth to smoke - the key drivers are youth culture, peer-pressure and family influence," it said.

Anti-tobacco campaigners, who have long campaigned for a total ban on tobacco promotion in the electronic media, found themselves unprepared to respond to the measure. "The Pakistan Tobacco decision is another of its ploys to delay the adoption of rules and regulations for the recently promulgated ordinance on tobacco control," said Dr Ehsan Latif, who heads the World Health Organisation-funded Tobacco Free Initiative Pakistan.

The Pakistan Health Ministry welcomed the company's decision, and criticised the activists' arguments as being meant to oppose for the sake of opposition.

Article source: Asia Times

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