Tobacco control: 10-day no smoking drive launched in Punjab

LAHORE: A 10-day campaign for enforcement of tobacco control was launched throughout the Punjab on Monday. The drive will continue from April 18 to 27 in all PHP regions.

The respective mobile education units and PHP posts will distribute pamphlets and leaflets among travellers and general public.

On the instructions of Additional IGP Punjab Highway Patrol Amjad Javed Saleemi, the campaign has been launched in all Punjab Highway Police regions, especially through the PHP Mobile Education Units to educate general public about the effects of tobacco on human health.

The Section 5 of the Prohibition of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance 2002 bans smoking at all places of public work or use and public services vehicles.

Section 8 prohibits sale of cigarettes and other smoking substances to persons below the age of 28 years. Section 9 bans sale, storage and distribution of tobacco products within 50 metres of the educational institutions.

According to the Section 10, it is obligatory on all concerned to display ‘No Smoking’ signs at all places of public use, or work. Police officers (ASI and above) are authorised persons to take action against the ban violators.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2017.