Kathmandu, Nov 29: In a significant move towards promoting public health and environmental well-being, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has declared a comprehensive ban on the sale of tobacco products across all 32 wards, effective from December 13, 2023.
Ram Prasad Poudel, Chief of the KMC Health Department, emphasized that the ban would encompass the selling, storage, and use of all tobacco products packaged in plastic within the metropolis. This includes a wide range of items such as cigarettes, beedis, tamakhu, sulfa, kakkad, raw tobacco packaged in plastic, chewing tobacco, gutkha, paan parag, and others.
KMC Police will be tasked with enforcing the ban, with the authority to seize any prohibited tobacco products discovered during inspections. Chief Poudel stated, “We are committed to transforming Kathmandu into a healthy city. The decision to prohibit the storage, sale, and use of tobacco-based products, detrimental to both human health and the environment, aligns with the 29th KMC Day.”
The enforcement of this ban is grounded in Clause 42 of the Public Health Act, which was issued by the KMC in 2080 BS. Chief Poudel underscored the rigorous implementation of this provision as a crucial step in mitigating the adverse effects of tobacco product usage on individual health.
Highlighting the broader perspective, it was emphasized that tobacco control serves as a foundational condition for enhancing public health and the environment in the city. In tandem with the current ban, KMC is reportedly gearing up to introduce a program aimed at controlling hookah (hukka) usage in the city’s second phase.
As the KMC takes proactive measures to curb tobacco-related health issues, this move is expected to contribute significantly to creating a healthier and cleaner living environment for the residents of Kathmandu.
29th Nov 2023
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