KARACHI, Feb 27: The committee constituted by the federal health ministry to monitor the implementation of the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers' Health Ordinance 2002 launched random checks against the practice at public places on Friday afternoon.

The team comprising Dr Atta Mohammad Panhwar of health ministry, Dr Suleiman Malik of the UNICEF, WHO Technical Officer Abdul Sattar Chaudhry and WHO Operations Officer for Sindh Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi started the exercise from Quaid-i-Azam International Airport.

The team would also undergo the same exercise at two railways stations, bus stations, public utility and recreational centres, educational institutions and offices.

Meanwhile, the team also intends to check the inter-city bus service between Karachi and other parts of the province, with the recommendation to make this a regular activity on part of provincial government aimed to compel vehicle operators ensuring strict implementation of the said ordinance.

It may be mentioned here that similar committees have already carried out random checks aimed at ensuring implementation of the ordinance at public places in Punjab and the NWFP.

The random inspections from other provinces have revealed that the team visited major public and private sector hospitals, leading educational institutions, hotels, airport lounges, railway waiting rooms, bus stands, public transport and other offices.

Though there were certain encouraging signs like prohibition of smoking in most offices and hotels and "No Smoking" boards and placards affixed at prominent places, it was noticed that even some health officials were found indulged in smoking in their offices.

Furthermore, cigarettes were found to be freely available in the canteens of educational institutions and people were found to be smoking while travelling in public transport.

Following these surprise visits, the federal health ministry in coordination with provincial health ministries would send letters to institutions concerned enabling the relevant authorities to take affirmative action on the specific findings reported to them by the committee.

It is pertinent here to note that the heavy consumption of tobacco is regarded as a major public health disaster both by the government and all the UN agencies related to health.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world. On average, around five million tobacco related deaths are reported every year in the world.

During the World Health Assembly held in May 2003, all the 192-member states of the WHO, including Pakistan, unanimously adopted the world's first public health treaty designed to reduce tobacco related deaths and diseases around the world.

According to a national survey conducted in 1994, around 23 per cent of adults smoke cigarettes with a significant predominance among males (34 per cent) as compared to female (13 per cent). Another study carried out in 1999 found that 36 per cent of male heads of households smoke cigarettes.

In order to control this imminent epidemic, the federal health ministry took the lead in advancing a tobacco control ordinance, approved by the government in October 2002 and enacted as legislation in July 2003 following a series of consensus building and wide range of advocacy operations.

The ordinance prevents the use of tobacco in all public places including means of transport and prohibits the sale of cigarettes to children or in close proximity to school premises.

It is also mandatory for the management of all public places to display boards of "No Smoking Zones" and the fact that "Smoking is a Punishable Offence". -APP