Provinces asked to enforce tobacco laws
Minister for health writes letters to chief ministers to make sure public places, vehicles are smoke-free
An employee counts cigarettes before packing them in Sidoarjo, Indonesia's East Java province April 7, 2010. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar on Thursday asked all provincial governments to take steps ensuring their compliance with tobacco control laws.
Following directions from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Tarar wrote separate letters to chief ministers of the four provinces raising the issue of tobacco control law violations taking place across the country.
Deceptive marketing increasing tobacco use among youth
In a statement issued by the ministry on Thursday, Tarar quoted different sections of ‘The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance, 2002’.
She stressed the need to ensure that all public places and public service vehicles should be completely tobacco smoke-free.
Similarly, there should be no sale of cigarettes and other smoking substances to those who are under 18-years of age.
Further, she asked the provinces to ensure a ban on the sale, storage and distribution of tobacco products in a 50-metre radius around educational institutions and to display no-smoking signs at conspicuous places at public places or work places.
Since all police officers (above the level of assistant sub-inspector) were authorised to take action against infringers, necessary directions should be issued to the relevant authorities to ensure compliance of the tobacco control laws.
The Supreme Court in suo moto case on Tobacco Epidemic of Pakistan, had issued directions to ensure compliance of ‘The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance, 2002’.
Smokers flout law, continue to puff away on public transport
These directions were issued to all provincial chief secretaries. Tobacco use is single largest preventable cause of death in the world. In Pakistan, tobacco causes of around 108,800 people to die every year, or around 298 deaths per day.
Enforcing existing tobacco control laws would be helpful in curbing tobacco epidemic in Pakistan, Tarar said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2017.
The Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar on Thursday asked all provincial governments to take steps ensuring their compliance with tobacco control laws.
Following directions from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Tarar wrote separate letters to chief ministers of the four provinces raising the issue of tobacco control law violations taking place across the country.
Deceptive marketing increasing tobacco use among youth
In a statement issued by the ministry on Thursday, Tarar quoted different sections of ‘The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance, 2002’.
She stressed the need to ensure that all public places and public service vehicles should be completely tobacco smoke-free.
Similarly, there should be no sale of cigarettes and other smoking substances to those who are under 18-years of age.
Further, she asked the provinces to ensure a ban on the sale, storage and distribution of tobacco products in a 50-metre radius around educational institutions and to display no-smoking signs at conspicuous places at public places or work places.
Since all police officers (above the level of assistant sub-inspector) were authorised to take action against infringers, necessary directions should be issued to the relevant authorities to ensure compliance of the tobacco control laws.
The Supreme Court in suo moto case on Tobacco Epidemic of Pakistan, had issued directions to ensure compliance of ‘The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance, 2002’.
Smokers flout law, continue to puff away on public transport
These directions were issued to all provincial chief secretaries. Tobacco use is single largest preventable cause of death in the world. In Pakistan, tobacco causes of around 108,800 people to die every year, or around 298 deaths per day.
Enforcing existing tobacco control laws would be helpful in curbing tobacco epidemic in Pakistan, Tarar said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2017.