I was shocked to see people smoking inside an airconditioned restaurant in Karachi. The restaurant was full of people, including small children. When I protested to the manager regarding this open violation of smoking ban inside the restaurant, his reply was “We follow our company's laws and not the country's laws.”

The same fast food chain operates completely smoke-free outlets all over the world but not in Pakistan. When this multinational company declared 400 of its outlets smoke-free in the UK in 2005, their chief executive said “We want to protect the health of our customers from the serious health dangers associated with second-hand smoking.”

May I ask the management of the same company in Pakistan Is the health of Pakistanis not important? Every day hundreds and thousands of children visit this particular fast food chain all across Pakistan and endanger their life by getting exposed to second-hand smoking (SHS).

Last year the government issued a notification in which the provision of designated smoking areas in the restaurant was withdrawn and a fine of Rs1,000 to 100,000 was imposed on those who violate this law.

Unfortunately no attempt was subsequently made by the government to implement this smoking ban.

SHS, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is a proven risk factor for not only lung cancer and heart attacks but also for several other diseases. In most countries of the world there is a complete ban of smoking at all indoor public places, including restaurants.

Experience to date demonstrates that clean indoor air laws protect non-smokers from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke toxins, contribute to a reduction in overall cigarette consumption, protect hospitality workers from adverse respiratory conditions, and are well accepted by the general public.

For example, when Mayor Bloomberg banned smoking in New York restaurants in 2001, within a few years there was a drop in teenage smoking from 18 per cent to 8 per cent.

Through these columns I urge authorities concerned in the ministry of hotel and tourism to take action against all restaurants and hotels of the country, including multinational fast food chains, that are violating the smoking ban. There is no point in bringing a law if it is not enforced.

Smokers have no right to destroy the health of those who have chosen healthy lifestyle. Implementation of a smoking ban at public places is the single most important measure that can reduce the burden of tobacco-related diseases in the country.

PROF JAVAID KHAN
Karachi