The Lahore High Court while hearing a petition seeking ban on smoking at public offices and educations institutions had ordered the Punjab government to ensure strict implementation of a ban on smoking at workplaces and educational institutions. The petitioner had stated that smoking at public offices and educational institutions leaves a bad impact on the health of children. The petition had further said that smoking at educational institutions was transitioning into drug addiction. The petitioner’s counsel pleaded before the honourable court that serious efforts on the part of government were needed to stop smoking in educational institutions. Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi of the Lahore High Court while hearing the petition last week in Lahore stated that smoking was already banned in public offices and educational institutions. The court directed the Punjab chief secretary to convene a meeting and convey the message to the relevant departments.
It is worth to mention here that in 2002 an ordinance to provide for prohibition of smoking and other tobacco uses in place of work or use and public service vehicles and to protect the health of non-smokers. The ordinance was supposed to come into force in entire country. According to the said ordinance the owner or manager or in-charge of the affairs of every place of public work or use was bound to display and exhibit a board at each conspicuous place in and outside the premises visited or used by general public prominently stating that the place is a “No Smoking Zone” and that “Smoking is an Offence.” Under the given ordinances penalties were also suggested. but it is quite unfortunate that despite the approval of the Health Ordinance the relevant authorities have not been able to implement this ordinance in letter and spirit. Had this ordinance been implemented all over the country there will have been no increase in tobacco markets. The fast spreading tobacco markets in the country is live example of rapid increase in smoking particularly amongst teenagers. The Pakistan Paediatrics Association has estimated that 1,000 to 1,200 teenage students start smoking daily in Pakistan. Pakistan Demographic Health Survey says that, 46 per cent men and 5.7 per cent women smoke tobacco. According to WHO, tobacco kills over seven million people every year, out of which 108,800 people died in Pakistan. Young people mostly the school going children are found to be the most vulnerable population to pick up habit of smoking. Surveys conducted on this age group demonstrated that 9 – 14% of school children were regularly involved in this habit. A strict policy formulation and implementation of relevant laws is needed to discourage this surging trend of smoking. It is high time that in the light of Lahore High Court ruling the authorities should redouble its efforts to put in place proper mechanism to enforce anti-tobacco laws and ensure complete ban on smoking at public places particularly in schools, college, universities, restaurants, hotels eating and drinking areas, offices and hospital premises and places such as public service vehicles and public parks where children play.
