Pakistan: Citizens for Effective Implementation of Tobacco Control Laws

Source from:  The News International 03/18/2013

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

They also asked the authorities concerned to make proper strategies in preventing sale of tobacco to minors.

Expressing dismay over the disregard of anti-tobacco laws, citizens said that effective on ground implementation of the regulations will only serve the purpose of tobacco control.

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.

They said more than 15 billion smuggled and duty unpaid cigarettes are sold annually in the country.

This illicit trade not only causes an annual loss of more than Rs10 billion to the national exchequer, but also undermines public health agenda as these tobacco products fail to comply with the regulations, citizens complained.

An official of Tobacco Control 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. Enditem