PETITION

To:  The Prime Minister, Government of Pakistan

We, the undersigned, are public health advocates in countries across the African continent. Many of us have worked tirelessly for years to pass and implement laws that regulate tobacco products. As you know from your strong tobacco control regulations in Pakistan, these laws protect children, vulnerable populations and the general public.

In Pakistan and many other countries, regulations don’t allow packs smaller than 20 cigarettes to be sold. These smaller packs of cigarettes, known as “kiddie” packs, make it easier, cheaper, and more likely those children will buy them. The 20-cigarette rule is a global standard.

In Pakistan, British American Tobacco’s Pakistan Tobacco Company is pushing you to change regulations so that it can manufacture 10-stick cigarette packs and export them to Sudan. However, WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in its Article 16 calls Parties to prohibit the sale of cigarettes in small packets, which increase the affordability of such products to minors. Consequently, Pakistan as a party to the Convention should not allow manufacturing of 10-stick cigarette packs.

British American Tobacco’s claim is that it won’t sell kiddie packs in Pakistan, but only in Africa. It is unconscionable that British American Tobacco (BAT) thinks it is ok to change a law on one continent in order to target vulnerable populations on another. In Sudan, and other countries in Africa, people need food, medicine and other lifesaving supports. What they do not need is kiddie packs of cigarettes that put them at increased risk of tobacco addiction, diseases and death. And we know that once BAT gets kiddie packs into one country, they will make their way across Africa.

British American Tobacco is engaging in corporate racism. It claims to care about protecting children in some parts of the world, yet in Africa, it is scheming to hook more people into its addictive products and to increase cigarette consumption.

If a product is too dangerous for one country’s children, it is too dangerous for children anywhere. Putting other people’s children at risk of tobacco addition, disease and death is unacceptable.

Don’t do BAT’s bidding – don’t put our African kids at risk by changing your strong tobacco control regulations in Pakistan.

Signed,