Stakeholders criticise K-P’s new tobacco control law

Farmers and legal experts join in the bashing of legislation


Our Correspondent September 08, 2016
Farmers and legal experts join in the bashing of legislation. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Prohibition of Tobacco and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Act, 2016 will reap the same results as other tobacco laws in the country have, say industry experts.

In a country where over 30 laws exist to curb the sale of illegal cigarettes alone, over 40% cigarettes sold are illegally smuggled. Hence, introducing new laws without enforcement of existing ones is nothing but a mere formality, they added.

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The bill calls for prohibition of tobacco in public places and public service vehicles amongst other directives.

Farmers

The farmers did not share the government’s optimism regarding the new bill either. On the off chance of selective implementation, tobacco procurement from farmers might slip. “The timing of this bill could not have been worse as it arrives in the midst of the tobacco purchase season”.

According to Pakistan Agricultural Forum (PAF), tobacco is the main cash crop of K-P province and is the primary source of income for over 75,000 farmers and 240,000 dependents.

A representative of the K-P farmers’ association said that serious questions need to be addressed by the government before enforcing the law. “Is there an alternative crop [in place of tobacco] that can meet the economic needs of farmers or will the government take ownership of the farmers who will no longer have a source of income?” he asked.

The representatives further questioned whether there’s any certainty that on-ground officials will know the difference between carrying tobacco and smoking.

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“The farmer association feels that all of these issues could have been addressed if the most important stakeholder of all - the farmers - had any part in the consultation process.” Farmers in K-P have already registered their protest and charter of demands to the Chief Minister’s Office.

Legal experts

Legal experts said that the Act contravenes the boundaries set out by the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance 2002 (NSO) - an ordinance that acts as the central governing source for all smoking legislations in the country.

Leading lawyer Iftikhar Khan says that the Act is sketchy and ill-informed piece of legislation and does not take the country’s tobacco landscape into consideration.

“The fact that the restriction to sell, distribute and use tobacco within 50 meters of an educational institute has been expanded to 100 meters shows no regard for the issue currently being sub judice (under judicial consideration),” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2016.

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COMMENTS (3)

Usman | 7 years ago | Reply Government edicts rarely do anything, society needs to shun and ostracize smokers. Here in Canada smokers are treated like "Churas" They are not allowed to smoke anywhere indoors, they are denied health insurance, they are often made to sit separately and even outdoors they are told they can't smoke 20 feet from a door. If smoking is to be eradicated, then Pakistanis need to treat smokers like Churas..
Sohaib Minhas | 7 years ago | Reply this law should be imposed and strict measures need to be taken in order for the upcoming generation to stay away from cigarette, the whole of Pakistan should follow this strictly to stop people from smoking in public areas and near educational institution
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