Tobacco kills nearly 6 million people each year globally, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
The number would be over 8 million annually by 2030, if proper initiative is not taken right now, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, said this in a statement on the eve of the World Tobacco Day.
More than 80% of the preventable deaths would occur in low and middle-income countries, said Singh.
Mentioning the countries constant initiative of curbing tobacco consumption, he said: "Tax and price policies are widely recognised as most effective for reducing demand for and consumption of tobacco products, and the measures together with strong pictorial warnings have brought substantial health care gains."
Singh, however, opined the illicit trade undermines tobacco control policy efforts and facilitates increased uptake of tobacco by youth and adults from low-income groups by making tobacco products more affordable and accessible.
In the South-East Asia Region, many countries have porous borders that provide easy opportunity for the smuggling of tobacco products, he added.
The WHO regional director said all South-East Asian countries have enacted stringent laws to control tobacco consumption - both on pricing and sale of tobacco products in-country as well as against import of foreign brands.
"And despite these efforts, there is still a thriving trade in smuggled tobacco products."
The international treaty was negotiated by the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and was adopted by them in November 2012.
WHO urges all Member States to speed up their process of ratifying or acceding to the protocol.
"Ratification of the Protocol is necessary to respond to the financial, legal and health impacts of illicit trade in tobacco products," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
