Pakistan: Hotels'' Owners Asked to Implement Anti-tobacco Laws

Source from:  Daily Times (pk)  01/29/2013

Citizens have urged the managements of hotels, restaurants and international food chains in the federal capital to properly implement anti-tobacco laws.

They said that the owners should also stop allocating designated areas in hotels and restaurants for smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars and sheesha. They said smoking in any form is totally banned in all places of public work or use, including hotels and restaurants, under section 2 of Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance 2002.

They said that the authorities concerned should ask the hotels' managements to implement such anti-tobacco laws to protect the health of non-smokers, as there is no provision in law that allows designated areas for smokers in public places. The citizens said that the body concerned should write a letter to Pakistan Hotels Association and Pakistan Food Association and ask them to ensure complete ban on any form of smoking in the premises of hotels, restaurants and international food chains.

When contacted, an official said that there is a plan to create awareness among citizens regarding negative effects of smoking and educate them about the tobacco control laws for proper implementation. He said local authorities have been asked to educate the citizens about such laws and stop open use of tobacco in public places and offices besides implementing tobacco control laws in departments including educational institutions, offices, etc. He said all of the country's airports have shut designated areas for smokers and no one is now allowed to smoke there, while such steps have also been taken by the Pakistan Railways. Enditem