Daily Times

Sir: It is very disheartening that local cigarette manufacturers are continuing to flout health ministry laws regarding the advertisement of cigarettes.

According to details, as per the health ministry law, tobacco advertisement guidelines 2009, tobacco advertising is entirely banned and cigarette companies cannot offer cash prizes, incentives or gifts to enhance sale. Nor are these companies allowed to use images of animals and humans on cigarette packs. Lamentably, local manufacturers are frequently violating regulations and offering different prize schemes.

The relevant government health departments failed miserably to implement tobacco-related laws and regulations, while on the other hand, local cigarette manufacturing companies are making drastic efforts to raise tobacco use among adults through illegal promotion activities. Authorities need to intensify efforts to prevent such acts and punish corporate violators of the law.

MANNAN SAMAD

Kech

Published in Daily Times, June 6^th 2018.