Ministry asked to launch intensive anti-smoking campaign

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s standing committee on health on Monday asked the Health Ministry to start an intensive campaign through the print and electronic media to make the general public aware about the destructive effects of tobacco.

The committee, which met under Dr Hajra Tariq Aziz, discussed the implementation of the Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance 2002 and observed that no significant reduction had been noticed despite the presence of the smoking prohibition law.

The committee members observed that non-implementation of the law was due to the lack of national will and commitment among the people. The committee members said that smoking continued in educational institutions, government departments and hospitals unchecked. They asked the Health Ministry to circulate fresh instructions to all federal and provincial government departments to implement the ordinance under their jurisdiction.

The Health Ministry secretary said that directions and recommendations of the committee would be implemented immediately.

The committee also asked the ministry to update the health education curriculum and ban all dramas on the electronic media which showed people smoking.

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