Pakistani Province Issues Ban: Smoke-Free Zone Enforced Near Educational Institutions

  Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has recently issued a ban prohibiting the storage, sale, and use of e-cigarettes and electronic vaporizers by minors, while also enforcing smoke-free zones near educational institutions.

According to a recent report by Dailytimes, Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has made significant progress by issuing an order under Section 144, banning the storage, sale, and use of e-cigarettes and electronic vaporizers by minors across the province, while also enforcing smoke-free restrictions near educational institutions.

An official notice stated, “In response to the sharp rise in the number of young people using e-cigarettes and electronic vaporizers, the Provincial Tribal Affairs Department issued this ban on Tuesday.” These products contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance, which has raised public concern over the growing use of e-cigarettes and electronic vaporizers.

The use of e-cigarettes and electronic vaporizers poses significant health risks, especially to children, adolescents, and pregnant women, and may lead to addiction and other serious health problems. Therefore, in order to protect citizens—especially the younger generation—the authorities decided to enforce a 60-day ban under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on the sale, storage, and use of e-cigarettes.

The order comprehensively prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes and electronic vaporizers to individuals under the age of 21 throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In addition, the sale, storage, and use of e-cigarettes and electronic vaporizers are banned within 50 meters of all educational institutions.