Deputy Commissioner Haripur, Shoaib Abbas, has enforced a 90-day ban on e-cigarettes, vapes, and other nicotine products in Haripur district, effective from September 6, 2024. The ban was implemented under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and includes strict measures to curb the use, sale, and promotion of these products.
The restrictions specifically target the use of e-cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine products in public transport and public spaces. Furthermore, the promotion of these products via media platforms, including pamphlets displayed on walls or vehicles, is strictly prohibited. Retailers are also barred from selling such products to individuals under 21 years of age, and storage or sales within a 100-meter radius of schools, colleges, hospitals, and public parks are forbidden.
This move in Haripur comes on the heels of a similar action taken earlier by the Sindh government, which aimed to curb the use of narcotics-related paraphernalia. In Sindh, under instructions from Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, authorities imposed a ban on the sale of items like pipes, chillums, and bongs, commonly associated with drug consumption. This ban, enforced under Section 144, empowers Station House Officers (SHOs) at local police stations to register cases against violators under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Both actions reflect growing concerns over the rising use of drugs and nicotine products in public spaces, particularly among the youth, as local governments intensify their efforts to create safer environments across the country.
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