Citizens decry being deprived of their right to breathe in fresh air

Violators of non-smokers' health ordinance continue to endanger lives

ISLAMABAD: Despite the existence of non-smokers' health ordinance, residents of the federal capital are persistently violating the anti-tobacco laws that deprive the citizens of their right to breathe in fresh air.

People living in apartments are major victims of passive smoking as they are facing this hazard all day if their parents, spouse or any other family member is a smoker.

With respect to outdoor areas, smoking is also prohibited in outdoor waiting areas for buses and trains, and public parks. Sub-national jurisdictions may enact smoke free laws that are more stringent than the national law.



A Pediatric Physician Dr Arslan from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) warned parents not to smoke while at home as it can increase their child’s risk of an early death due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood. Second hand smoking (SHS) is a proven risk factor for lung cancer, heart attack and several other diseases.

According to the World Health Organization, SHS is estimated to cost more than 600,000 lives per year worldwide, he added.  When contacted, an official of the health department said the law dealing with Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance, 2002 (Ordinance No. LXXIV of 2002), governs multiple areas of tobacco control, including restrictions on public smoking. Our department is carrying out their efforts for the implementation of this law. "Everyone should take responsibility and become role models for the public by adhering to the laws themselves" he added. The government should be courageous enough to ban smoking and penalise smokers who are hurting their family members and neighbors with their habit, said a resident living in Park Tower of Sector F-10 Markaz.

Another office boy Sajjad working in a private office situated on the third floor of a plaza in Blue Area said, "When I come to the office through the stairs it was quite difficult for me to reach the office floor as the whole gallery was covered with cigarette smoke".

A house wife living in the flats near G-11 Markaz said, "After staying in the flat the entire day, I cannot come outside for a while to get fresh air from the corridor as it is full of the unbearable odor produced by the smoke." A ban on smoking in public places should be enforced immediately because of the harmful nature of secondhand smoke, she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2018.