Anti-smoking Ordinance: Provinces told to ensure implementation by October 28

Federal Health Secretary has directed that all provinces would develop a comprehensive strategy and plan of action to push forward the implementation of the prohibition of smoking ordinance in the country by October 28.
The directions were issued in an inter-provincial meeting of secretaries here on Saturday, under the chairmanship of Federal Health Secretary Anwar Mahmood. The Secretary Health informed the meeting that powers to implement the ordinance had been delegated to provinces under the directive of the Supreme Court.
He said that under the ordinance, smoking is prohibited in all public places and transport services, and sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to those below the age of 18 years is prohibited. The law also prohibits the storage and sale of cigarettes within 50 metres of all educational institutions.
The meeting noticed that there was need to make co-ordinated efforts with the education, home and transport departments joining hands with the health department to ensure across the broad implementation of this ordinance which is vital for protecting the health of the populace and curbing the incidents of diseases like lung cancer and different heart aliments associated with the use of tobacco.
The meeting decided that focal persons shall be nominated by health, transport, home and education departments to check the violation of the ordinance in their respective areas of responsibility.
It was recommended that heads of institutions, health establishments and transport owners should be held responsible for violation of the Ordinance in their areas of responsibility. The Secretary Health Balochistan said that Balochistan Chief Secretary has issued directives to all concerned to ensure strict implementation of the Ordinance.
Representative of Punjab Government also apprised the meeting of the measures being taken under the directives of the Provincial Chief Secretary towards ensuring strict implementation of the Ordinance. WHO Representative Dr Khalif Bile and Abdus Sattar Chaudhary, an expert on the subject, made presentations on health hazards associated with use of tobacco and measures taken so far in the country to restrict tobacco consumption.
Bile informed the meeting that use of tobacco is one of the major causes of deaths in the country claiming over 60,000 lives annually and urgent steps are required to accelerate the implementation of the Prohibition of Smoking Ordinance besides educating the masses on health hazards associated with the menace. Major General Shahida Malik, Director General Health and other senior officers of the Ministry of Health also attended the meeting.
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