The World No Tobacco Day is being celebrated in Nepal amidst various programmes today.

According to statistics, every year, 15,000 people are estimated to die in Nepal due to tobacco consumption.

According to experts, thanks to the delay in the ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the promotion of tobacco products has been going unabated.

Reports quoted president of the Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS) Diwakar Raj Karnikar as saying, “Earlier, the ratification was delayed citing the lack of authentic legal body in the country. No efforts have been made on that front even after the formation of a new government and the revival of the House.”

He also accused the government of delaying the ratification of the convention owing to pressure from big cigarette factories.

The NCRS will submit a memorandum to the government today, demanding that it ratify the FCTC at the earliest.

Dr Bishnu Pandit, acting secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), said the government was very serious about ratifying the FCTC.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has agreed to provide space for putting hoardings against smoking and tobacco consumption in 10 major places of the valley, including Tripureshwor, Bhrikuti Mandap, Ratna Park, Thapathali and Putalisadak.

According to the WHO, 85 percent of liver cancer is caused due to smoking. Globally, five million people die due to smoking every year.