DESPITE the approval of the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance 2002, it is yet to be implemented by Punjab’s provincial capital of Lahore.

As a result, most public departments and organisations in Lahore do not have a proper mechanism in place to enforce anti-tobacco laws. Thousands of people in the district do not smoke, yet become victims of passive intake as people openly smoke at public places, violating the law and adversely affecting the health of others.

From the premises of educational institutions to hundred yards there should be no tobacco shop, but regrettably in educational institutions there are cafes and canteens and other shops which are selling cigarettes and other tobacco stuff.

Because of a lack of awareness and poor checks by the authorities concerned, people smoke in public parks in the city. There is a need to take strict action on the open violation of the law.

Arooma Shahzad

Lahore

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2014