Enforcement of smoking ban ordered

Islamabad
The Federal Directorate of Education has directed its officials not to puff cigarettes and use ‘naswar,’ a smokeless powdered tobacco snuff, and ‘paan’ on the premises.
The directions were issued lately in line with the orders of the Capital Administration and Development Division, which oversees the FDE tasked with regulating government educational institutions in Islamabad both urban and rural.
According to Section 5 of the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers’ Health Ordinance 2002, smoking and use of tobacco in other forms (‘paan,’ ‘naswar’ and ‘gutka’) is strictly prohibited at public and private offices. Besides, establishing smoking areas in any office is also against the law and thus, being a punishable offence. FDE deputy director (administration and coordination) Zafar Iqbal issued separate letters to directors of the directorate’s all sections asking them to ensure compliance with the ban on use of tobacco and ‘naswar’ in their offices even after duty hours.