Tobacco-Free Gilgit-Baltistan was a one year project (February 2019 to January 2020) funded by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) to Reduce Tobacco Use. The project is implemented by the Socio-Economic & Educational Development Organization (SEEDO) in Gilgit-Baltistan. Overall purpose of this project is to Seek support from the members of legislative assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan, Secretaries, Local Governments, District Governments, law enforcement agencies, group of hospitals, group of schools, groups of transporters, group of commerce and trade, group of hotels and restaurants, and group of media personnel as well as to sensitize them, on Tobacco control and to take necessary preventive measures for implementing the smoke-free laws in all public and private sectors at district and provincial level in GB—such as; taking an initiative ‘to register the tobacco vendors, by imposing a bigger amount on the fee on retailers and whole-sellers, by adding a clause of yearly renewal fee.
Through the first cycle of the project SEEDO achieved following mile stones regarding its implementation
- Baseline Survey Completed and report published and shared with Govt of Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Mass sensitization campaigns launched successfully in Gilgit Division to aware and sensitize both public and policymakers regarding harms of tobacco use.
Signed MOU with Govt of Gilgit-Baltistan to jointly launch anti-tobacco campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan.- Divisional and District/Sub-District based Tobacco Control Task Forces (TCTF) constituted in Gilgit Division to monitor tobacco control laws at District and local level.
- 4 Village (Smaal Valley Ghizer, Hoper Valley Nagar, Jalal Abad Valley Gilgit, Raabut Valley Nagar) in 3 Districts are made “Tobacco Free Village” in Gilgit Division with the help of SEEDO’s anti-tobacco volunteers. Now no tobacco products are available anywhere in these villages.
- Persuaded and supported Gilgit-Baltistan Govt and Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) to constitute the “Provincial Tobacco Control Act”.
- Federal Cabinet and Law Department approved “Gilgit-Baltistan Tobacco Control Act 2020” and the same will be passed soon from GBLA.
CTFK has extended the project for 2020 by acknowledging great achievements accomplished in the first cycle.