THE other day I had to spend a few hours at the domestic lounge of Karachi airport, and during this time I suffered unbearable smell of tobacco smoke.

On looking around I found out that a new ‘smoking zone’ has been opened up at Karachi airport and smell was coming from that area. Prohibition of Smoking Ordinance of 2002 was amended in 2009 and all so-called designated smoking areas at airports were withdrawn, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.

When I complained to the CAA staff at the airport, he admitted that it was against the current laws of Pakistan to allow smoking inside the terminal building. However, he said the CAA was helpless because of pressure from influential VIP smokers.

Making public places completely smoke-free is one of the most important strategies recommended by WHO to reduce the burden of smoking in any country.

Research has clearly shown that ‘smoking areas’ do not protect non-smokers from environmental tobacco smoke, because toxins can freely move from one part of the lounge to another, especially in closed airconditioned environments like airports.

Javaid A. Khan
Chair, National Alliance for Tobacco Control
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2014