To make Punjab a tobacco-free state, a state-level sensitization workshop was organized by the State Tobacco Control Cell, at the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare.

Workshop, held under the chairmanship of Hussan Lal, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Punjab, the discussion focused on ill-effects of tobacco consumption and the present status of tobacco control in Punjab. With Punjab election in 2017 the hopes of every Punjabi farmer and common man is to get their issues resolved.

Emphasizing on the role of civil society, various departments like Legal Meteorology, Excise and Taxation and the police, Hussan Lal spoke on the latest Supreme Court directions on the implementation of the ban on manufacturing and sale of chewable tobacco.

He assured measures would be taken to firmly implement the directions regarding the ban on the sale of gutkha and pan masala (without tobacco) with flavored chewing tobacco in separate sachets but often conjoint and sold together by the same vendors from the same premises.

Dr Rakesh Gupta, state program officer spoke about the various laws and provisions in place for tobacco control. Punjab Government has initiated the project to eradicate use of any kind of drugs in Punjab.