PESHAWAR: The Peshawar deputy commissioner, Syed Zahirul Islam, on Wednesday banned sale of cigarettes in areas near educational institutions and health centres with a view to protect non-smokers from its adverse affects.

The decision was taken at a meeting here chaired by the deputy commissioner.

Mr Islam asked the assistant commissioners to also keep check on use of sheesha and initiate action against such cafes in the city which are dealing in sheesha smoking.

The meeting was attended by assistant and additional commissioners, anti-tobacco provincial coordinator Ajmal Shah, officials of police, health, education, transport departments and civil society representatives. The participants condemned the use of tobacco and stressed the need of creating awareness among the students about the hazards of smoking.

They suggested that special lectures should be delivered to students on negative impacts of tobacco and that banners should also be displayed at public places and bus terminals to discourage use of cigarettes.

The Peshawar deputy commissioner directed all the additional and assistant commissioners to take action against smoke cafes and cigarette stalls located within the radius of 50 meters of the educational institutions, health centres and public places.

Published in Dawn, July 10th , 2014