RAWALPINDI, (APP): Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) urged the federal government to implement Federal Ombudsman decision regarding Tobacco control.
Addressing a press conference here at Rawalpindi Press Club, General (retd) Masood Kiani said the government had failed to enforce the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) agreement as in 2017-18 budget it reduced the prices of cigarettes which was violation of FCTC, adding the Federal Ombudsman had also given a direction in this regard to implement the international treaty signed by 128 countries.
He said the Ombudsman also directed that if directions were not implemented within 30 days, the federal ombudsman can take up the issue with the president.
He said smoking was the major source of various diseases including heart, diabetes and high blood pressure and to control tobacco smoking, tax on cigarettes must be increased as per FCTC agreement, he demanded.