LAHORE: Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa has ordered strict implementation of a ban on smoking in all government offices and public places.

He made the announcement at an official meeting here on Thursday.

First of all, heads of all departments will nominate afocal person and two master trainers (of their department) at the divisional level, who will be trained in ensuring a smokefree city.

`The administration will do its utmost to make Lahore division smoke-free,` he said.

The commissioner said participation of representatives of all departments would be ensured in the Divisional Implementation Committee for Anti-Smoking. He directed the heads of all departments to make their establishments smoke-free and display `Smoking is strictly prohibited` boards inside their establishments.

He said enforcement of antitobacco laws in public vehicles,hotels and restaurants will be ensured and violation will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

He further said that strict enforcement of rules in public places is necessary for which every department must prepare its work plan in two weeks and inform the administration.

Smoking in all public places and in public vehicles is an offense against which the police can take immediate action.

He further said that education authorities and director colleges will provide data of shops within 50 meters of all schools and colleges to the commissioner`s office and organise speech and writing competitions to raise awareness among children against tobacco.Mohammad Aftab Ahmed of Ministry of National Health took the participants of the meeting into confidence with the future action plan.

He said that more than 160,000 people die due to smoking in Pakistan every year and 1,200 Pakistani children between the ages of 6 and 15 years start smoking regularly.

He said the government should not only stop the newcomers but also help the smokers to get rid of this scourge. He said the Ministry of National Health of Pakistan, along with the Lahore Division administration, is continuing its efforts to eliminate smoking and create a smoke-free city. He said there was a need to work on tobacco-free future generations.

The meeting was specially attended by the deputy commissioners of all the districts in the division.