The government is preparing to introduce a law to ban smoking in the public places.

“Places for smoking will be designated. If anyone smokes outside such designated places, he/she will be fined,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam.

“We are soon bringing a law to this effect,” he said.

In fact, the Supreme Court had ordered the government two years ago to formulate laws to ban smoking in public places.

Reports say that in Nepal, 49 percent of men and 29 percent of women smoke. nepalnews.com sd Nov 06 08