Pak’s Ramzan Bill Aims to Fine People Seen Eating, Smoking Openly

As the Ramzan Bill awaits Parliamentary approval, masses react to potentially being fined for eating in public.

The Ramzan bill aims at fining those who are caught eating or smoking in public during the holy month. 

(Photo: iStock)

The Ehtram-e-Ramazan Amendment Bill 2017 or the Ramzan Bill as it is better known, is a private-member bill which aims to fine people found eating or smoking in public, during the month of Ramzan, which is yet to receive the Pakistan Parliament’s approval.

The Bill had been introduced in 2017 by Senator Tanveer Khan, and was later approved unanimously by the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs in the same year.

The Express Tribune reports that the Ministry of Religious Affairs had moved a summary to the cabinet division, which pledged to increase fines against those who were found eating or smoking in public during the fasting hours. Following this, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led (PML-N) government had increased the penalty by a 100 percent.

However, the delay in the Bill being approved in the Parliament has led to speculations abounding that it may not be presented before it during the current government’s tenure, considering that it tenure was almost complete, the report adds.

While the current ruling federal cabinet can support the Bill once its moved for approval, the Bill has been introduced as a private-member Bill, as a result of which the existing government cannot do much to push it through Parliament, an official told The Express Tribune.

If by any chance it indeed fails to be presented before parliament by 31 May, then chances are it will go in the doldrums for a long period.

The official to <i>The Express Tribune</i>

The amendment to the Bill, as recommended by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, had suggested that the fine structure for hotel owners, TV channels, and cinemas be changed to: Rs 25,000 for hotel owners, instead of Rs 500 as per the 1981 Ehtram-e-Ramadan Ordinance.

It also recommended that TV channels and cinema houses should be charged Rs 5,00,000 or more if they are found violating the Ordinance. Further, it stated that cinema halls should remain closed during the fasting hours in addition to the time period that was already slated in the Ordinance.

Reactions to the Ramzan Bill

Considering the implications of the Ramzan Bill, the general public, especially in Pakistan, have a lot to say.

Some have directly called it “draconian” and a violation of their basic rights and freedom.

Others, however, said that since it only applied to those who were eating or smoking in public, it didn’t stand to affect them as much.

Some said that since it is still awaiting Parliamentary approval, they aren’t too worried.

(With inputs from The Express Tribune)