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The Federal government is all set to compel cigarette manufacturers to print Pictorial Health Warning on cigarette packs from May 31, World No Tobacco-Day. This was stated by Yusuf Khan, Director General (Implementation) Tobacco Control Initiative Ministry of Health here on Wednesday during a faction jointly hosted by Health Ministry, WHO and International Union against TB and Lungs Disease.
He said that under the law smoking in schools, restaurants, cinemas, shopping malls, playgrounds/stadiums, auditoriums and libraries will be prohibited, besides making smoking zones in hotels and restaurants illegal. From May 31 no one will be allowed to sell cigarettes in or around the educational institutions, he added.
Yusaf said that Pakistan will become 21ist nation in the world by enforcing law, which will reduce arrival of the smuggled cigarettes in the country, adding that in this connection the ministry has completed homework for the implementation of this law. He said that under the law headmasters, principals, restaurant managers, police officers, bus drivers/conductors will be authorised to ask the smokers to stop smoking; otherwise they could ask the police/law enforcement agencies to take action against such person.
Ministry of health is being lauded for this step particularly for not coming under pressure from the influential tobacco industry for delaying this law. "The industry is now ready to implement the law regarding pictorial health warning on cigarettes packs. We do not see tobacco industry asking for more time," the DG added.
It is believed that markets are full of smuggled cigarettes without scary health warning pictures. On one hand they inflict an annual estimated loss of Rs 1.5 billion to the economy of Pakistan, while on the other those involved in this illicit business are foreseeing a good money making opportunity when it will be a must for cigarettes packs to carry graphic health warnings.
"The tobacco industry is main contributor to the government exchequer with nearly Rs 50 billion collected in the forms of Excise tax, Sales Tax, Tobacco Development Cess and other taxes. The act will be significantly proved supportive for the local industry as smuggled brands will easily be tracked and law enforcement agencies will curb such activities, he added.
Speaking on the occasion WHO representative, Dr Farrukh Qureshi said that annually over 5 million peoples were killed by diseases caused by smoking. He said that WHO will continue providing technical as well as financial support to Pakistani government in securing the lives of the people.
Yusaf added that over 1,200 Pakistani youth age between 6 to 15 years start smoking. He added that smoking kills around 100,000 Pakistanis every year and all these deaths are preventable. According to the new law on violation of section 5, 6 and 10; on first violation a fine up to Rs 1,000 would be imposed on the violator, on second violation not less than Rs 1,000 and on third violation up Rs 100,000. On violation of section 7, 8 and 9 of the law, first fine will be up to Rs 5,000 and on second violation fine not less than Rs 100,000 or up to three month's imprisonment.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

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