Chandigarh, May 27 (IANS) The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday announced it was honouring Punjab for its exemplary campaign against tobacco, an official said.

The WHO lauded the state’s efforts for taking measures to curb the usage of tobacco in any form and launching a sustained campaign to educate the masses besides taking punitive measures to punish offenders, a statement said.

The award would be given on May 31, the day observed as ‘World No Tobacco Day’.

Punjab Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani said the state was the first to impose complete ban on sale of loose cigarettes.