DHQ Ghakuch Smoke Free Area Inauguration

“Smoke-Free Gilgit-Baltistan” is a project funded by the “Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund” implemented by the “Socio-Economic and Educational Development Organization (SEEDO) as a pilot project in four districts of Gilgit-Baltistan (Gilgit Division).CTFK has extended its funding support for the next round after its successful implementation for the first round.

Since the project is initiated, we have received encouraging responses from all the stakeholders; either it is the provincial government or the community who are the ultimate beneficiaries of this project. Meetings with high officials in the provincial government, law-enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and concerned bureaucrats have been espousing. We hope that the project “Smoke-Free Gilgit-Baltistan” gifted by “Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund” will be a blessing for the communities affected by harms of tobacco. directly and indirectly. Till the end of the year 2020, we will become able to introduce provincial-based tobacco selling licenses to shop keepers in Gilgit-Baltistan through proper channel after finalization of rules against the new legislation. This will ensure the ban on selling tobacco products without a vendor’s license throughout Gilgit-Baltistan.

On 25^th of July 2020, a meeting was conducted with MSDHQ hospital Ghizer Mr. Muhammad Baig at DHQ Hospital Ghakuch to discuss the inauguration of DHQ hospital Ghizer as smoke-free place.

DHQ Ghakuch was officially inaugurated by AC Punial Ishkomen, MSDHQ  Hospital  Ghakuch, and CEO SEEDO Aziz Karim on July 28, 2020.