Citizens stressed the need for efficacious implementation of tobacco control laws and for curtailing sales of smuggled and duty-non-paid tobacco products.
They also asked the authorities concerned to make proper strategies in preventing sale of tobacco to minors. Expressing dismay over flagrant disregard of anti-tobacco laws, the citizens on Tuesday said that effective implementation of the regulations will only serve the purpose of tobacco control. They said that sincere efforts are needed to prevent the spread of smoking at indoor and 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 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, citizens complained. Most of these packs do not even carry the Urdu health warning while the regulations prohibiting consumer promotions are also being blatantly violated, they added. When contacted an official said that 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.
