Sale of loose cigarettes continues in Multan

MULTAN: The sale of loose cigarettes continues unchecked in the city and suburban areas despite a ban imposed by the government last month in this regard.

Most of the shopkeepers in the city markets, including General Bus Stand, Vehari Chowk and Gulgasht Colony, can be seen selling loose cigarettes to their customers. Tauheed, a shopkeeper at Syedanwali Bypass, told the agency that he had stopped selling loose cigarettes since the ban was imposed. Another shopkeeper Sohail Khawaja, however, said he had stock of some open packets of cigarettes and he was selling loose cigarettes just to finish that stock. A citizen, Asif Shabir Bhutta, said loose cigarettes were easily available at all shops in the city. Not a single shopkeeper had refused to sell him loose cigarettes, he claimed, adding that he used to smoke some 10 cigarettes a day and he could not afford to buy a packet of 20 cigarettes daily.

Rizwan Virk, another citizen, said shopkeepers in the main markets were not selling loose cigarettes and that was why he had to purchase a full packet. The people in general have lauded the government for imposing a ban on sale of loose cigarettes as it would help decrease smoking among teenagers.

Rain FORECAST: The local Met office has forecast partly cloudy weather with chances of dust storm, thunderstorm and rain for the city and suburbs during the next 24 hours. On Sunday, maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded as 39.5 degree centigrade and 26.8 degree centigrade, respectively. Humidity was recorded 41 per cent at 8am and 22 per cent at 5pm.

Two kite sellers held: Daulat Gate police arrested two kite sellers during a crackdown here on Sunday. According to police sources, the police conducted raids and arrested Sajjad and Ghafoor Hussain for selling kites. The police also recovered 520 kites and chemical twine from them. Separate cases have been registered against the accused.