Saira urges chief ministers to ensure compliance with tobacco laws

Islamabad

Minister of State for Health Saira Afzal Tarar has requested the provincial chief ministers to issue necessary directions to relevant authorities to ensure compliance with tobacco control laws in best public interest. The request has been made in compliance with directions issued by the prime minister in a meeting of the cabinet.

In letters issued to the provincial chief ministers, Saira has raised the issue of violations of tobacco control laws taking place across the country and has stressed for measures to ensure that all places of public work, as well as public service vehicles are completely tobacco smoke-free. Similarly, she has also requested for efforts to prohibit the sale of cigarettes and other smoking substance to persons under age of 18 years.

The CMs have been requested to ensure ban on sale, storage and distribution of tobacco products within 50 meters of educational institutions. Display of no-smoking signs at all places of public work has also been called for. Since all police officers (ASI and above) are authorised to take action against violators, the CMs have been requested to issue necessary directions to relevant authorities to ensure compliance with tobacco control laws.

Ironically, however, tobacco smoking is rampant within the Parliament House, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, for which specially encrusted cigarettes are manufactured, and in a majority of government offices in the federal capital, with no questions being asked. Even today, many restaurants continue to have designated smoking lounges for clients in complete disregard for the law. If such blatant violations can continue in the federal capital, one cannot expect such written correspondence to the chief ministers to have any impact.

It is pertinent to mention that the Supreme Court of Pakistan, in a suo moto case, had issued directions to ensure compliance with The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance 2002. These directions were issued to all provincial chief secretaries.

Tobacco use is single largest preventable cause of death in the world. In Pakistan, tobacco is a cause of death of around 108,800 persons every year. This is 298 deaths per day. Enforcing existing tobacco control laws would be helpful in curbing tobacco epidemic in Pakistan.