CM Maryam pledges strict enforcement of smoking ban as World No Tobacco Day highlights rising youth vaping concerns
Image: Associated Press of Pakistan
LAHORE — Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to enforcing a complete ban on smoking across educational institutions, government offices, public transport, and other public spaces. Speaking on World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31, she warned that violations are a punishable offence and that strict implementation of the law will be ensured without exception. She stressed that all possible steps will be taken to discourage smoking and vaping among young people, adding that raising awareness about tobacco’s harmful effects is not only a government responsibility but a shared social obligation.
General Cadre Doctors Association President Dr. Masood Sheikh, addressing a workshop on the occasion, highlighted that around 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries. He further cautioned that e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative, as their use can actually increase conventional cigarette uptake, particularly among non-smoking youth. New data presented at the event revealed that at least 40 million children aged 13 to 15 currently use at least one tobacco product globally, of whom 20 million smoke cigarettes and 10 million use smokeless tobacco.
Dr. Asad Abbas Shah reinforced that all forms of tobacco are harmful and that there is no safe level of exposure, regardless of the product consumed. Dr. Javaid Mumtaz added that the economic costs of tobacco use extend beyond healthcare expenses for tobacco-related diseases and include significant human capital lost to illness, disability, and premature death.
