The Punjab vaping ban is now moving towards law, with the provincial government preparing legislation for a province-wide ban on vapes and e-cigarettes to protect young people from nicotine addiction.
The plan is still at the preparation stage. No law has been passed yet, and no fines, punishments or enforcement date have been announced. What the government has prepared, according to ProPakistani, is a plan to legislate, with a province-wide ban under consideration.
Punjab vaping ban: what is planned
The proposed legislation will be discussed with relevant departments, including the police, the health department and district administrations. Strict restrictions on the sale, use and promotion of vapes are under consideration as part of the same plan.
Officials have also said a comprehensive legal framework to prevent the buying and selling of vapes is under consideration. Once the legislation is complete, the proposed ban would be enforced across Punjab.
The stated aim of the plan is to prevent minors from getting access to nicotine products. A mechanism for action and punishments against violators is still to be devised, and coordination between the relevant institutions has already begun.
Why a law, not just a crackdown
Punjab has already acted against vaping in schools. Feature Pakistan has previously reported on Punjab’s ban on carbonated drinks, vapes and tobacco in schools, colleges and universities, which covers educational institutions. The new plan would go much further, because it would apply across the whole province and not only inside schools and colleges.
There is also a practical reason to legislate first. An earlier crackdown on vape shops in Punjab ran into trouble in court. According to a fact-check by Daily Pakistan, no formal law had been enacted that criminalised vaping products, and the Lahore High Court granted interim relief to shop owners, ordering sealed shops to be reopened and enforcement to stop until proper legislation was introduced.
That history explains the shape of the current plan. A ban that rests on a statute is harder to challenge than a ban that rests on an executive order alone.
The health question behind the plan is about young users. Vaping products come in sweet flavours and small, brightly coloured devices, and they are easy to carry and use without the smell of smoke. Health officials worry that these features make nicotine products attractive to teenagers who would not otherwise smoke. Feature Pakistan’s explainer on quitting smoking with e-cigarettes sets out what research says about vaping as a smoking alternative and where the evidence is still limited.
What happens next
The next step is consultation between departments. Police, health officials and district administrations will discuss the proposed legislation and settle the details that are still open: what exactly is banned, who enforces the ban, and what punishment applies.
Until that legislation is tabled and passed, nothing changes for shop owners or users under the new plan. The existing rules still apply, including the ban inside educational institutions and the general rules on smoking in public places.
The test of the plan will be in the draft law itself. A clear definition of banned products, a workable enforcement route and a fair punishment mechanism would give the ban a firmer footing than the earlier crackdown had.
Frequently asked questions
Is vaping banned in Punjab now?
No. The Punjab government has prepared a plan to legislate for a province-wide ban, but the legislation has not been completed or passed yet. No enforcement date has been announced for the new plan.
What would the proposed ban cover?
The plan covers vapes and e-cigarettes across Punjab, with strict restrictions on their sale, use and promotion under consideration. The exact scope will depend on the draft legislation.
Why does the government want a law first?
An earlier crackdown on vape shops was challenged in the Lahore High Court, which granted interim relief and ordered sealed shops reopened because no statute criminalised vaping products. A proper law would give enforcement a firmer legal basis.
Does Punjab already restrict vaping anywhere?
Yes. Vapes and tobacco are already banned in schools, colleges and universities in Punjab. The new plan would extend restrictions beyond educational institutions to the whole province.
