Senate panel repeals smoking law

A parliamentary panel approved repeal of juvenile smoking act as a new and comprehensive legislation has been enacted

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel approved the repeal of an obsolete juvenile smoking act as a new and comprehensive legislation has been enacted. The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination approved the West Pakistan Juvenile Smoking (Repeal) Bill 2018. The bill will repeal the West Pakistan Juvenile Smoking Ordinance 1959 that was promulgated to prevent the sale of tobacco to children under 16 years of age. The National Health Services Ministry officials informed the committee in a meeting that after promulgation 2002 Ordinance, selling cigarettes and other smoking substances to a person under the age of 18 years is illegal. Since the 2002 Ordinance is modern and more comprehensive in its scope so the Law and Justice Commission has recommended to repeal the West Pakistan Juvenile Smoking Ordinance 1959.  

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2018.