By Our correspondent
The Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry of Health launched the tobacco-free trains initiative in connection with its various ongoing activities for World No-Tobacco Day.
Launched in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Railways, the initiative will lead to stringent measures being taken to prohibit smoking inside trains.
Divisional Superintendent Railways Jalaluddin Khan has declared all the 104 stations falling under his jurisdiction as tobacco-free.
“The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance will be implemented in letter and spirit, and no one would be allowed to smoke inside the trains,” Jalauddin pledged while speaking at a ceremony held at the Rawalpindi Railway Station here on Friday to mark the launching of the initiative. “Stern action will be taken against violators. Internal orders to this effect have already been circulated,” he informed.
Jalaluddin also unveiled the no-smoking billboards provided by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Railways has provided free space to the Ministry for installation of billboards on conspicuous spots.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the ministries of railways and health.
Later, stickers inscribed with the warning ‘Smoking is an offence and violators can be fined up to Rs100,000’ were pasted inside trains.