Chandigarh, Nov 29 (IANS): Hotels, restaurants and commercial establishments in Punjab which fail to enforce the no-smoking ban on their premises will lose their licences, the state government announced Saturday.

In a communication to all deputy commissioners, the government directed them to cancel the licences of all those hotels, restaurants and commercial institutions that were found violating the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA 2003).

Punjab has already declared 18 districts as smoke-free and the remaining four will be made smoke-free in the next three months, said the communication from state chief secretary Sarvesh Kaushal.

"It is a matter of great regret that 12 percent population of Punjab still consumes tobacco in one or other form," he said.

He said the government would take strict action against those found lax in enforcement of COTPA.

The chief secretary has also sought monthly reports from the districts regarding implementation of the order.