April 8, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, April 7: Smoking in public transport vehicles and at public places goes unchecked in the twin cities despite a government ban, it has been learnt. Last year, the Ministry of Health and various civil societies organizations had launched a campaign against smoking at public places, and the government had warned that the violators would be punished, but nothing has been done in this regard.

The district and sessions judge, Chaudhry Assad Raza, in 2003 had prohibited smoking on the district courts’ premises, but the lawyers as well as other people coming to the courts can be seen puffing cigarettes.

Besides district courts, the ban on smoking is also being flouted at almost all public places in Rawalpindi including hospitals, hotels, parks etc.

A heart specialist told this reporter that a smoker posed serious health hazards to other people around him, who could fall victim to heart problems and lung cancer.

He said workplaces in Pakistan were ill-designed with poor ventilation system, adding that it aggravated the problem for non-smokers. “Developing asthma is a common complaint from passive smokers,” he added.

The heart specialist said many people continued smoking even at sensitive places like hospitals mainly due to lack of check by the authorities.

A source in the health ministry said the ministry had received a lot of complaints from certain NGOs, seeking government help in taking practical steps to ensure implementation of the ban on smoking at public places.