ICT to launch month-long anti-smoking campaign

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The district administration has decided to launch a month-long public awareness campaign against smoking at public places, and to mobilise all stakeholders about the hazards of tobacco use, besides implementing the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance, 2002, in the capital. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed and attended by officials of the Tobacco Control Cell, Cabinet Division, traffic police and District Health Department.

 The meeting also decided to constitute a district implementation and monitoring committee to monitor the progress of implementation of the anti-smoking law, and to review the progress of the campaign on a monthly basis. The committee would consist of officials of the Tobacco Control Cell, Islamabad Transport Authority, Islamabad Traffic Police, Capital Development Authority, Custom Services, District Health Department and Federal Directorate of Education. It was also decided that all stakeholders, including traders, hotels and restaurants owners, representatives of bar associations and chambers of commerce and industries, and heads of educational institutions, would also be taken onboard and meetings would be held, seeking their cooperation to this effect.

 Speaking on the occasion, Amer Ali Ahmed said that the main emphasis of the campaign would be to create awareness in public and to protect the health of non-smokers, and mobilising public opinion against smoking at public places. The meeting also devised a plan of action for the campaign and decided to hold meetings with transporters, representatives of Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industries and heads of schools and colleges during this month.