Blue Veins and the Provincial Alliance for Sustainable Tobacco Control Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday called on the provincial government to remain vigilant of the manipulative tactics employed by the tobacco industry and its allies, emphasising the need for concerted efforts to combat these deceptive strategies and protect public health.
In a press statement issued here, they alleged that the tobacco industry, notorious for its creation of front groups and AstroTurf organisations, continues to be the single greatest challenge to undermine tobacco control activities.
The industry aims to boost sales and expand its market by sustaining a weak regulatory environment. A fundamental and irreconcilable conflict exists between the tobacco industry’s and public health policy interests.
Also, WHO’s FCTC 2003 urges all member states to ensure discouraging partnering or non-enforceable agreements with the industry or its front groups.
“Governments and civil society organisations must remain vigilant against the third parties, front groups, and AstroTurf groups supported by the tobacco industry,” stated Sana Ahmad, Program Coordinator of Blue Veins.
“These entities, often masquerading as independent organisations, are mouthpieces for tobacco companies, pushing agendas that serve the industry’s interests at the expense of public health.” The industry employs the third-party technique, a classic public relations tactic, to disguise its operations and influence.
This involves channelling funding, expertise, and messaging to organisations that can carry the tobacco agenda under the guise of legitimacy. While some of these organisations, such as trade associations or PR firms, are transparently linked to the industry, others operate under the guise of independence, making it challenging to identify and counter their influence.
Front groups, a particular concern, are established, funded, and controlled by the tobacco industry but claim to act independently. Their financial ties to the industry are often opaque, and they misleadingly purport to represent public or special interests. Similarly, AstroTurf groups are designed to simulate grassroots support or opposition by recruiting supporters or fabricating them.
“Mr Imran Takkar, a key advocate in the fight against tobacco industry interference, firmly asserts, ‘The tobacco industry should not be a partner in any initiative linked to setting or implementing public health policies.
It’s essential to recognise that the interests of this industry stand in direct conflict with the goals of public health. Any collaboration with them in this context undermines the integrity of our public health initiatives and jeopardises our communities’ health and well-being.’
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