Pakistan: Citizens for Implementation of Tobacco Control Laws

Source from:  Pakistan Daily Times 02/27/2013

Citizens stressed the need for efficacious implementation of tobacco control laws across the country and for curtailing the sale of smuggled, duty-non-paid, and non-compliant tobacco products.

They also urged the authorities concerned to make proper strategies to prevent the sale of tobacco to minors.

Expressing dismay over flagrant disregard of anti-tobacco laws, the citizens on Tuesday added that effective implementation of the regulations would only serve the purpose of tobacco control.

A citizen said, "Sincere efforts are needed to prevent the spread of tobacco use as smoking at 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 available data, more than 15 billion smuggled and duty-non-paid cigarettes are sold annually in the country.

"This illicit trade not only causes an 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 government," another citizen complained.

"Most of these packs do not even carry the Urdu health warning, while the regulations prohibiting consumer promotions are also being blatantly violated," the citizen also said.

An official from the Anti Tobacco Cell said, "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."

The official also said, "The law contains provisions restricting smoking at public places, advertising and promotion of tobacco products and prohibiting sale of cigarettes to minors."

The official added, "Pakistan is the fifth country in Asia, and the 26th country in the entire world, which has introduced pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs under the 'Cigarette Printing of Warning Ordinance, 2002'." Enditem