KARACHI, Aug 22: A recent survey conducted to measure the degree of implementation of tobacco control laws in Karachi has found that cigarettes are being sold to minors (under-18) at 85 per cent of cigarette-selling outlets (303) surveyed during the study.

University students are also found smoking on the campus at more than 77pc of (18) public and private sector universities whereas cigarettes are being sold near 94.4pc of the surveyed universities, which is the violation of the law against the sale of cigarettes within 50 metres of an educational institution.

In addition, smoking has been observed inside 71.4pc of government banks and offices (207) as compared to only 24.2pc of private banks and offices.

The survey was conducted by a group of doctors of the Dow University of Health Sciences and the Aga Khan University — Dr Nauman Khan, Dr Hina Ahmed, Dr Rizwan Khan, Dr Syed Abdul Moid Tahseer Khan and Dr Nadia Shareef — under the supervision of Professor Javaid Khan, head of the chest diseases section, department of medicine of the AKU.

According to the findings, of the 151 restaurants surveyed, 70.3pc had not displayed the ‘No Smoking’ sign and people were found smoking in 58.2pc of the restaurants. Only 33pc of the surveyed restaurants were found to have designated smoking areas.

The activity of smoking was observed in 49pc of all (398) public transport vehicles surveyed during the study.

Of the 37 brands being sold at various cigarette shops (303) in different parts of the city, 62.2pc did not have any pictorial warning on their packets. At the same time, 8.1pc of brands were available in two different kinds of packets — with and out a pictorial warning.

Cigarette advertisements in the form of posters were on display at 53.2pc of outlets.

‘No smoking’ sign was displayed at only 33.3pc of all (207) banks and offices surveyed while smoking was witnessed inside 29pc of all public and private banks and offices.

More than 87pc of the public (a sample of 250 individuals chosen) claimed to have observed smoking during their last visit to a restaurant; 59.3pc said they saw people smoking during their last travel in a public transport vehicle whereas 63.2pc of the population claimed to have witnessed smoking during their last visit to an indoor shopping centre, the survey data shows.

At the same time, 17.5pc of the public said to have observed smoking during their last visit to a bank or an office. Around 61pc of them was aware of the ban on smoking at public places while 90pc supported a complete ban on smoking at all public places, including restaurants, offices, public buses and shopping centres.

Speaking to Dawn, Dr Javaid Khan, research supervisor and chairperson of the national alliance for tobacco control, said that though comprehensive laws had been enacted against tobacco use in the country, their implementation hardly existed.

“The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance, 2002 banned smoking at public places that included all offices, banks, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, airports and shopping centres. A ban on smoking was also imposed inside public transport vehicles. The mandatory pictorial health warning law was made in 2010.

However, these laws have never been implemented in letter and spirit,” he said.

The Supreme Court also took suo motu notice of the government inaction and passed an order directing chief secretaries of all provinces to take effective measures for implementation of these laws, he said.

“In response, the government did take some half-hearted measures which included the withdrawal of the so-called designated smoking areas inside restaurants in 2009.

“According to the existing law not only it is illegal to allow smoking inside a restaurant, but it is also a punishable offence. The fine ranges between Rs1,000 and Rs100,000. But no restaurant has ever been punished for a violation,” he said.

According to Dr Khan, the situation regarding the implementation of anti-tobacco laws has become worse after the approval of the 18th amendment as a tobacco cell set up by the federal government has stopped its functioning and provinces are not aware of their responsibilities on the law’s implementation.

“A ban on smoking has been proved to be a best strategy to reduce tobacco use across the world. Here, we are, in fact, encouraging youth to accept smoking as a norm by not implementing the laws which explains why tobacco industry is making huge profits at the cost of human lives in Pakistan,” he said.

Dr Khan also cited the resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly this year which banned shisha smoking at restaurants and other public places.

He expressed surprise over such legislation saying that shisha generally contained tobacco as its main ingredient and was a form of smoking which was already banned in the country.

“Various advertisements have been placed in the media reminding people about the ban on shisha, but no real action has so far been taken against big fast-food chains and famous restaurants of the city where these products are available and used.

“Even five-star hotels continue to serve shisha and allow smoking on their premises, risking lives of non-smokers, including women and children, present there. Studies have shown that passive smoking in indoor hospitality venues especially shisha smoking places is a major public health problem in Pakistan.

“Governments across the world take measures to protect their people from toxins released by smokers, but not in our country,” he said.