ISLAMABAD: The Federal government on Monday launched a campaign to make Islamabad a smoke free city.

In the first phase, Shakarparian and Pakistan Monument have been declared smoke free areas.

Speaking to journalists on the occasion, Minister for National Health Services Aamer Mehmood Kiani said the smoke-free campaign has been launched with a view to make Islamabad a model city not only for Pakistan but also the region and the world.

Referring to the adverse impact of smoking on the lives of the people, he said about one hundred and sixty thousand people die annually in Pakistan due to smoking. He said there is the law which prohibits smoking at public places but this was never implemented.

Kiani said that the smoking will now be banned at all the public places including the premises of National Assembly and the Senate. The minister said that the Capital Development Authority has also been directed to promote healthy activities in the capital.

He regretted that the health sector never remained a priority in the past but the present government is striving to bring improvement in it.

Yesterday, Aamer Mehmood Kiani had requested the Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change to carry out the assessment of the quality of air.