ISLAMABAD: With efforts for securing compliance of tobacco control laws gaining momentum as part of the Smoke-free Islamabad Initiative, Chaaye Khana in Super Market is rigidly ignoring the numerous warnings that it has received for closure of its designated smoking area.
Metro, on the other hand, has been quick to respond to all objections in order not to be classified as a self-service wholesale outlet that is promoting tobacco use.
The Smoke-free Islamabad Initiative, which is being enforced by the Tobacco Control Cell in collaboration with the Islamabad district administration, is currently in its third phase of implementation.
Suring this phase, efforts have been stepped up to secure compliance of tobacco control laws by all district departments as well as the general public at large.
A coordinated movement for the enforcement of tobacco control laws, it may be recollected, was initiated by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration in January 2013.
Pursuing a new strategy, the Tobacco Control Cell has directly involved Assistant Commissioners (sub-divisional magistrates) in all enforcement activities. These magistrates visit different areas, along with police and officials of the Tobacco Control Cell, to register cases against violators.
It was learnt that in the last week of March, sub-divisional magistrate-Sadar Rabia Aurangzaib raided retail outlets in different sectors and Metro, where stark violations of Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) guidelines were observed.
Recording their statements to the police, the violators stated that the advertisement boards had been provided by the tobacco industry. The magistrate ordered the police to register cases against the tobacco companies.
As such, three cases were registered against Philip Morris International-Pakistan, one against Pakistan Tobacco Company and seven against the shopkeepers. It was in response to this raid that Metro Islamabad immediately followed 100 percent compliance of tobacco control laws.
The above cases have been filed by the police in the court of a magistrate for summary trail. The magistrate will now summon the managements of both companies on these violations, after which fines will be imposed on them in accordance with tobacco control laws.
In spite of strict enforcement, the administration has not been able to secure the closure of the designated smoking area inside Chaaye Khana.
Internews
