Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing a ban on smoking in educational institutions across the province. In her message on World No Tobacco Day, she stressed that smoking in government offices, public transport, and other public places remains a punishable offence, and authorities will ensure strict compliance with the law.
She said the provincial government is taking comprehensive steps to discourage smoking and vaping among young people. According to her, creating awareness about the dangers of tobacco use is not only a government responsibility but also a collective social duty.
Speaking at a workshop, General Cadre Doctors Association President Dr Masood Sheikh highlighted that nearly 80 percent of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries. He also warned that e-cigarette use can encourage conventional cigarette smoking, especially among non-smoking youth.
World No Tobacco Day is observed annually on May 31.
According to recent data, around 40 million children aged 13 to 15 worldwide currently use at least one tobacco product. Among them, 20 million smoke cigarettes, while 10 million use smokeless tobacco products.
Dr Asad Abbas Shah emphasized that all forms of tobacco consumption are harmful and that no level of tobacco exposure is safe. Dr Javaid Mumtaz added that tobacco use places a heavy economic burden on society through healthcare costs and the loss of productivity caused by tobacco-related illnesses and deaths.
