Traders stop selling unpacked cigarettes

Traders in the provincial metropolis have stopped selling of loose cigarettes to their customers after the federal cabinet imposed a ban their sale across the country with an aim to prevent children under the age of 18 from smoking. As per the decision, the retailers have been directed not to sell less than a packet of cigarettes. The decision was made to discourage smoking in the country, especially among youth.
However, the traders believe that the move has not affected the consumption of cigarettes by youth as they buy the packets by contributing money which has prompted a significant increase in its consumption. A trader, Muhammad Ali, told Business Recorder that many school going kids are now buying full packs of cigarettes after the ban. In most of the cases, he said, it is very hard for the youngsters, particularly school going children, to hide cigarettes at home. Therefore, they go to their home after finishing the pack," he added. Interestingly, he pointed out that the government had to first control the supply of 'imported cigarettes' to the market instead of taking this decision since the youth or minors are using/consuming imported brands.
"Although the decision has seriously affected our businesses, it will also provide a safe way to police officials to mint money from shopkeepers soon after the start of next month," he apprehended, asserting the government should review its decision and first control the supply of imported or duty-free cigarettes in the country.
Another trader, Hasnain Ali, said he is selling loose cigarettes to his 'trustworthy' customers notwithstanding the ban because he cannot afford to suffer financial loss by refusing them. Few days back, he said some traders were charged for violating the orders of federal government, adding that the profiting mafias in major wholesale markets have also increased the prices of local and imported cigarettes before the upcoming budget 2018-19.
It may be noted that the decision to slap a ban on sale of loose cigarettes was taken under the Section 8 of the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Ordinance, 2002, which states that no person shall sell cigarettes or any other smoking substance to any person who is below the age of 18 years.
Earlier, the government had imposed a ban on the sale of less than five cigarettes to any person but its implementation did not produce any desired results. The government had also issued a statutory regulatory order (SRO) to increase the size of pictorial warning on cigarette packets. The order stated that the pictorial warning must cover at least 50 per cent of front and backside of the packet.