By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan has moved to ban tobacco advertisements from the print and television media as well as billboards, keeping only a one-hour early morning window open on television for them.
The tobacco industry has been asked to remove billboards by the end of this year. But they would have to reduce the size of billboards to one sq ft with immediate effect.
The ban in the print media would be complete, Federal Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan announced Thursday on the occasion of No Tobacco Day.
"Tobacco advertisements in electronic media will be allowed only between 3 a.m. to 4 a.m., while earlier this permission was from midnight to 6 a.m.," Khan said at a press conference.
He said the ministry of health would expand its advocacy meetings with district officials to fully implement the ban on smoking in district assemblies, offices, schools and public transport.
He also appealed to people not to smoke at public places, the Daily Times said.