Skip to main content

Crackdown on illegal promotional campaigns to be launched

Islamabad : The provincial governments, law enforcement agencies and police are all set to launch a country wide crackdown against the local cigarette manufacturers for committing serious violations of Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) laws.Taking notice of news published in The News dated April 7, 2019, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination has written a letter to the provisional governments and Islamabad Capital Territory for immediate action against the local cigarette manufacturers for enforcement of tobacco control laws here on Monday.According to MNSRC officials, a major crackdown against these local cigarette manufacturers is being launched at national level. These manufacturers are openly offering gifts, cash back rewards, free sampling, cash offers, use of human or animal pictures to attract young consumers.The enforcement exercise is expected to result in seizure of violated cigarette products and arrest of persons involved in manufacturing and sale of these cigarette packs openly violating laid down rules and regulations.According to the Health Ministry’s letter, provincial governments and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administrations have been asked to immediately invoke powers under SRO.1068(I)/2019 to take action against these local cigarette manufacturers involved in serious violations of these rules and regulations.Health Ministry in the official letter also said that the tobacco use is a single largest preventable cause of death in the world. In Pakistan, tobacco is a cause of death of around 166,000 persons every year. The youth of Pakistan are being targeted by the local tobacco industry so that “replacement smokers” could be recruited. Around 1200 Pakistani children between age of 6 & 15 start smoking every day.According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2014 almost 24million (19.1percent) adults currently use tobacco in any form in Pakistan. That accounts for 15.6 million (12.4percent) adults who currently smoke tobacco including 3.7 million adults using water pipes, hookah or shisha and another 9.6 million (7.7percent) adults who use smokeless tobacco.According to official correspondence, it is well documented that the Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship increase tobacco use and that bans on TAPS decrease tobacco use. In this regard, government has issued TAPS guidelines under “Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers’ Health Ordinance 2002”. According to the SRO.1086(I)2013, it is illegal to advertise tobacco and tobacco products on print, electronic and outdoor media or through depiction of a human or animal images or through a poster or banner affixed outside a shop, kiosk or mobile trolley. Moreover, according to the SRO.53(KE)/2009, it is illegal to offer free goods, cash rebates, free samples, discount or goods below the market values for the purpose of the advertisement of tobacco or tobacco products to consumers to generate sale or promote smoking.Currently, this Ministry has noticed violations of the said laws. It has been observed that the local cigarette manufacturers are openly violating these laws by offering gifts, cash back rewards, free sampling, cash offers, use of human or animal pictures to attract consumers etc.It is pertinent to mention that SRO. 1068(I) 2006 and SRO.46(I)/2007 empowers the provisional governments and Islamabad Capital Territory administration to enforce tobacco control laws in their jurisdiction. Police officers are authorized persons to take action against the violators of the aforesaid laws/ordinance. The violation of section-7 are cognizable and bail able offences and can be trialled by the magistrate of the first class, Health Ministry added.

from The News International - Islamabad http://bit.ly/2vtrvYZ
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3 drug pushers, bootlegger held

Islamabad :Islamabad Industrial Area Police have arrested three drug pushers and a bootlegger besides recovery of narcotics and 120 liter liquor from them, a police spokesman said.According to details, a police team of Industrial Area police station arrested three drug pushers namely Kamran, Irfan and Shamoon Masih and recovered 320 gram heroin and 210 gram hashish from them,.Another police team arrested a bootlegger namely Ansar Javed and recovered 120 liter wine, bottles, stickers and brewing equipment from him. Cases have been registered against these nabbed persons and further investigation is underway from them.SP (Industrial Area) Zubair Ahmad Shaikh has said that Industrial Area zone police is doing its job efficiently and crackdown against criminals would be continued.Despite the sit in, he said Islamabad Police has been performing its duty quite efficiently and has successfully managed to maintain the daily life in the Capital.In this regard, Senior Police officers including S...
Post a Comment
Read more

‘Aziz Bhatti Shaheed My Brother, My Hero’

Real heroes are heroes of every one. They are not controversial. Nations love them more than anything. Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed is among those real-time heroes of 1965 War, who not only stood firm to face the enemy aggression but also repulsed it with his unprecedented courage. He gave his life while defending the frontiers of motherland but never let the enemy succeed in its nefarious designs. The proud nation awarded him with ‘Nishan-i-Haider’, the biggest gallantry award of the country. Now that more than 54 years have passed, since he embraced Shahadat, he continues to live in the hearts of each and every Pakistani. Aziz Bhatti is remembered with love and affection. Nation observes his Yaum-e-Shahadat on 12th of September in a befitting manner.This year was significant in a sense that his younger brother Sardar Ahmed Bhatti (95 years old now) presented this nation a book named ‘Aziz Bhatti Shaheed My Brother My Hero’. This book is classic and unique in a way that it unearths many ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pragmatic steps taken to implement Axle Load Control regime on NH&MP

Islamabad: Ministry of Communications has taken pragmatic steps to implement the Axle Load Control regime on Motorways & National Highways in the country. Sole objective of this move is to control travelling of overloaded vehicles which lead to fatal accidents besides damaging the national asset of road network of billions of rupees.Prior to implementation of axle load control regime, a technical committee was formed, consisting of officers from Ministry of Communications and National Highway Authority which remained in constant contacts with transport community, Members of the Chambers of Commerce and stakeholders hailing from all the provinces. This technical committee visited their offices and held detailed discussions in series of meetings and took them into confidence to facilitate implementation of Axle Load Control regime. The stakeholders assured of their full cooperation and subsequently, implementation of Axle Load Control was realized which is in progress.It is worth to ...
Post a Comment
Read more