DUSHANBE, November 3, 2010, Asia-Plus – Today deputies of the Lower Chamber of the Tajik Parliament have approved the law “On limited use of tobacco goods” submitted by the Government of the republic.
Smoking will be banned in schools, hospitals, organizations and companies irrespectively of forms of their property, airports, train stations, recreation areas, sport and culture facilities and public transport as soon as both the Lower and the Upper Chambers approve the law which will then signed by the President of the country, First Deputy Minister of Justice Abdujabbor Kodirov said.
“Additionally, it will be banned to sale tobacco goods near kindergartens, schools, hospitals and other medical institutions,” A. Kodirov has said.
Deputy Jumaboy Sanginov in his turn said that the total number of smokers in Tajikistan remains unclear.
“The law will initiate the fight against tobacco through bans and awareness campaign. Apart from efforts undertaken by the Government we need to attract civil society to this problem,” he added.
In late July this year Tajik President Emomali Rahmon initiated ban on sale of cigarettes in all governmental and non-governmental institutions.
The law will mainly ban smoking in education and medical, culture and sport facilities and nearby territories, in all public places, including stadiums, train stations, airports and public transport.
Smokers will be allowed to smoke in special places. Law breakers will pay a fine of 5-15 indexes (one index makes 35 Somoni) assigned for natural persons and 3-300 indexes for legal persons.
