Lahore: A writ petition was moved to the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking ban on the sale of E-Cigarettes, Vapes and smoking pens to the minors and the educational institutions.
Advocate Shiza Qureshi, a Lahore-based lawyer, filed the petition and argued that the use of drugs in educational institutions is on the rise.
She contended that possession of E-cigarettes and Vapes among minors became a terrifying predicament, pointing out that the most of the academic hubs allowed Vapes and other similar entities as a replacement for cigarettes.
She argued that the under the law, the E-Cigarettes, Vapes and smoking pens could not be sold to persons under the age of 18 years.
Consequently, the lawyer argued, E-cigarettes, vapes, flavored nicotine, HTPS among the plethora of other modern narcotic devices were being used for smoking. She also submitted that prohibition of smoking and protection of non-smokers health Ordinance 2002 was not being implemented against such educational institutes and minors.
The petitioner asked the court to order ban on sale of E-cigarettes, vapes, flavored nicotine, HTPS and other narcotic devices to the minors. She also prayed the court that the educational institutions be ordered to adopt strict compliance to the ban in a bid to alleviate the use of such substances among minors.
She also asked the court to direct the authorities concerned for rigorous implementation of the existing law to save the children.
After hearing initial arguments, Justice Asim Hafeez summoned secretary schools and others, sought replies from the parties and put off further hearing till April 20.
