On 10 November 2017, the Ministry of National Health Services has requested to all federal secretaries and provincial chief secretaries to take steps for ensuring compliance of tobacco control laws in best public interest.

The Secretary Health Naveed Kamran Baloch has raised the issue of violations of tobacco control laws as discussed in the Senate Standing Committee meeting held on October 31, 2017. In this context, he quoted different sections of The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance, 2002. He requested them to ensure that all places of public work or use and public service vehicles should be completely tobacco smoke-free.

Similarly, there should be no sale of cigarettes and other smoking substance to persons under 18 years of age. Secretaries have been requested to ensure ban on sale, storage and distribution of tobacco products within 50 meter of the educational institutions and to ensure that no smoking signs are displayed at all places of public use or work.

Since all police officers were authorized to take action against the infringers, so necessary directions should be issued to the relevant authorities to ensure compliance of the tobacco control laws.

The Supreme Court in Suo Moto Case on Tobacco Epidemic of Pakistan, had issued directions to ensure compliance of ‘The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance, 2002′. These directions were issued to all provincial chief secretaries. The Supreme Court had also asked the government to advertise harmful effects of sheesha smoking through newspapers, television, billboards, etc, and arrange corner meetings to convince and discourage people, especially youth, from indulging in sheesha smoking.

In Pakistan, tobacco is a cause of death of around 108,800 persons every year which comes as 298 deaths per day. Enforcing existing tobacco control laws would be helpful in curbing tobacco epidemic in Pakistan.