Warid, SKMT Conduct Anti-Tobacco Drive

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program, Warid conducted a massive Anti-Tobacco awareness campaign in collaboration with Shaukat Khanum Hospital on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, which highlighted the adverse effects of using tobacco.

Warid collected funds for poor cancer patients and organized a session for its employees on the dangers of smoking. In addition to sending awareness text messages to Warid subscribers, the company also ran an awareness campaign on its Facebook page.

SKMT organized numerous awareness sessions in different corporate organizations and universities and colleges across Pakistan and also organized an Anti-Tobacco Walk in Islamabad, both of which were sponsored by Warid. SKMT Tigers Club organized Anti-Tobacco Poster Competition 2012 in which schools across Pakistan participated and painted messages against the use of tobacco. Shahid Afridi, the brand ambassador for this campaign gave away prizes to the winners.

In the 20th century, the tobacco epidemic killed 100 million people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2008 report titled The Global Tobacco Epidemic, by 2030, there will be more than 8 million deaths every year unless urgent action is taken.

An estimated 80 percent of these deaths will occur in developing countries. According to research nearly 40 percent of cancers in adult males of Pakistan can be associated with tobacco. Being socially aware and a responsible corporate citizen, Warid remains active in the promotion of health in the country.