News
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Effective implementation of anti-tobacco laws demanded
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Expressing dismay over flagrant disregard of anti-tobacco laws, social circles have said effective on-ground implementation of the regulations will only serve the purpose of tobacco control.
Every year May 31, is being observed around the world as ‘World No Tobacco Day’. The day is intended to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and its negative health effects but unfortunately the governmental department has done noting in this regard.
Wold Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the theme for ‘2011 World No Tobacco Day’ is the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
In line with the spirit of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the government has already enacted various tobacco control measures through the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance 2002 (LXXIV of 2002). Social circles stressed the need for efficacious implementation of tobacco control laws across the country and for curtailing sale of smuggled, duty-non-paid, and non-compliant tobacco products.
They said that sincere efforts are needed to prevent the spread of tobacco use as smoking at indoor public places, tobacco product advertising and promotion, printing of pictorial health warnings on packets and availability of duty-evaded and attractive looking smuggled brands in the market are still widespread. Pakistan is the 5th country in Asia, and the 26th country in the entire world, to introduce pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs under The Cigarette Printing of Warning Ordinance, 2002.
It is common knowledge that violations of regulations regarding smoking in indoor public places, tobacco product advertising and promotion, printing of pictorial health warnings on packets and availability of duty-evaded and attractive looking smuggled brands in the market are still widespread. According to sources, more than 15 billion smuggled and duty-non-paid cigarettes are sold annually in the country.
This illicit trade not only causes annual loss of more than Rs 10 billion to the national exchequer, but also undermines public health agenda as these tobacco products fail to comply with the regulations issued by the Ministry of Health, the citizens complained.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk