Acting on the directions of Kamalpreet Kaur Brar, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Punjab, the office of the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, constituted four joint enforcement teams to conduct a special drive against violations of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) across the city.

During the special inspection drive, the teams checked seven cigarette and tobacco retail outlets in different parts of Ludhiana. At one shop, officials recovered 292 packets of cigarettes that did not carry the mandatory pictorial health warnings. The entire stock was seized on the spot in accordance with the provisions of COTPA.

A show-cause notice was issued to the shopkeeper concerned, and further legal proceedings were initiated under the provisions of COTPA. The authorities said strict action would continue against anyone found violating tobacco control regulations.