New health warning on cigarette packs from March 30

Islamabad: Putting all rumours to rest, the government Tuesday issued a notification under which 85% of the front and back of cigarette packs and outers will have to carry a pictorial health warning. The notification was preceded by a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) last Friday for enhancement of the health warning.
The government had been enduring immense pressure from the tobacco industry to withdraw the SRO ever since it announced this landmark decision for tobacco control in Pakistan. The new warning will come into effect from March 30, 2015.
“The government will leave no stone unturned to protect the health of its citizens. It has now become mandatory to have the pictorial health warning published on all cigarette packs produced-imported and sold in Pakistan.
Strict disciplinary action will be taken for non-compliance of this law,” the minister of state for health Saira Afzal stated on the occasion.A press release issued by the ministry states that the government is also taking measures to raise tax on cigarettes in the upcoming budget.