ISLAMABAD - The administration of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has been striving for tobacco smoke-free Islamabad.
The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) and Safa Gold Mall are joining hands to make Islamabad a smoke-free city through signing of a Letter of Intent. Safa Gold Mall has also inaugurated a tobacco smoke-free zone at the premises. Dr. Nausheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary (NHSRC), was the chief guest at the ceremony to sign the Letter of Intent for the project titled “Tobacco Smoke-Free Islamabad” at Safa Gold Mall, said the officials. The event was attended by Baber Sahib Din, Additional Deputy Commissioner ICT, Dr. Minhaj us Siraj (Project Director), Khurram Hashmi, Technical Advisor (The Union), project staff and others.
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death globally and is currently responsible for 10 percent of adult deaths worldwide and the global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke, according to the World Health Organization.
“Strengthening Tobacco Smoke-Free Islamabad Initiative,” was an extension of “Islamabad model city project” for creating awareness of hazards of tobacco use in the general population and making district management, revenue collectors, bazaar unions, hotel associations, education managers, hospitals management, authorized persons and law enforcement agencies recognise and join hands to execute the model of a tobacco smoke-free capital. 
The main objective of the project is strengthening tobacco control efforts through establishing coordination among district departments to plan, implement and monitor Islamabad model city project. 
The ultimate goal of this initiative is to come up with the obligations under FCTC of World Health Organisation to contribute to protecting present and future generations not only from the devastating health consequences due to tobacco, but also from the social, environmental and economic scourges of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, according to the officials.