Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir will be the first district in the state to declare public places as smoke free zones by January 26 next year.

"We are committed to fully implement Section 4 of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA) in letter and spirit and are hopeful that by January 26, District Budgam will be declared free of tobacco use in public places and public conveyances," District Development Commissioner Mohammad Rafi said at a meeting here yesterday.

The meeting was convened to discuss the progress in efforts to eradicate cigarette smoking and use of other tobacco products at public places.

Rafi, while taking strong note of the tobacco menace prevalent in the district, stressed upon the concerned agencies and institutions to accelerate efforts to demonstrate hazardous and alarming consequences of smoking and organise awareness programmes for curbing it.

He said besides government, NGOs must also play a proactive role for creating awareness amongst people in general and youth in particular