Discourage smoking
Photo: STAR
The government decision to enhance customs duty on cigarettes and other tobacco products has been hailed by the conscious people of the country. The step has been taken in an apparent bid to bring about a curtailment in the consumption of cigarettes which takes a heavy toll of lives in our country as well as in other parts of the world every year. Smoking is injurious to health and its (smoking) dreadful consequences have prompted the strengthening of the anti-smoking drive around the globe. Bill Gates, the world-known computer software exponent, has recently gone on a tour to China to involve himself in the anti-smoking campaign in the country (China) where smoking has, in the meantime, surfaced as a colossal problem claiming innumerable lives each year. A smoker cause harm not only to himself but also to the person before whom he smokes. This is, in other words, known as 'passive smoking' which arguably is more dangerous than direct smoking. Keeping this in view, the government has, in the recent past, enacted Tobacco Control Act' prohibiting smoking in public places. But implementation and application of the law continues to remain a far cry. However, the government must be strict in enforcing the law if it wants to prove its sincerity in controlling the use of cigarettes and similar products.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments