LAHORE, Aug 28: Punjab Health Minister Chaudhry Iqbal has called for sensitising people about the hazardous effects of smoking.

Talking to a group of oncologists here on Tuesday, he said smoking caused various types of cancers and asked them to create awareness among the people in this regard.

He said billions of rupees were being wasted on smoking annually and the government had taken concrete steps for complete elimination of smoking at public places and sale of cigarettes to juveniles.

The government had introduced the Prohibition of Smoking Ordinance about seven years ago, but since then it has been finding it hard to implement it in letter and spirit.

It is not being implemented as the government departments, hospitals and the educational institutions’ staff are not sensitised about the issue. The anti-smoking law’s violation can be witnessed at public places, especially in hospitals, educational institutions and transport where it has become a nuisance.

The law, which was aimed at promoting public health and a smoke-free environment, has had a very little effect in society which is evident from the fact that cigarettes are still being sold in close proximity of education institutions. Section 9 of the ordinance clamps complete prohibition on the sale of tobacco and related products, especially to minors, within 50 meters of an educational institution.

Though the law authorises the public transport drivers and conductors to eject a passenger from their vehicle for smoking, not such a single case has been reported from any part of the province so far.

Smoking is largely responsible for cancer of lung, oral cavity, larynx, bladder, pancreas, kidney, stomach and blood. According to the report of an NGO, tobacco use in Pakistan is on the rise.