Despite a law banning smoking in enclosed spaces in 2003, not a single violator has been booked or fined, according to a report by the Network for Consumer Protection (NCP), a non government organization.

The report released on No Tobacco Day on Wednesday said the law was “violated and mocked at in places where it should have been honored the most – President’s House, the Parliament and government offices.” The report said several newspapers published pictures of ministers smoking in cabinet meetings, and ashtrays of various sizes and designs on government dignitaries and elected representatives’ desks mocked the law.

The law titled ‘Prohibition of Smoking in Enclosed Places and Protection of Non-Smokers’ Health Ordinance 2002’ (Ordinance LXXIV of 2002) was enacted on June 30, 2003. The law declares hospitals, educational institutions, offices, conference rooms, domestic flights, restaurants, buses, vans, trains, indoor stadiums, gymnasiums, waiting rooms and bus stands enclosed public places, where smoking is an offence. It also restricts sale and storage of cigarettes in a 50-meter radius of any educational institution and strictly restricts underage sale.

The law sets a Rs 1,000 fine for a first-time offender, which may be increased up to Rs 100,000 for subsequent offences. The report criticised the method of the law’s implementation and said it might be the reason why no violator had been fined. Police officers or magistrates can’t take action until a complaint is received, after which there is a formal court procedure that makes ‘on the spot’ action impossible. These flaws made the law merely “symbolic”, the report said.

It said violation of the law was rampant in public transport and suggested making smoking in public transport a ‘traffic offence’.

About 430,000 people die of second-hand smoking worldwide annually, and many countries have banned smoking in offices and public places.

Source: Daily Times – Pakistan