ISLAMABAD: Experts at a roundtable during the 27th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) expressed deep concern over the growing tobacco consumption among Pakistani youth, with alarming statistics revealing that 1,200 children under the age of 15 start smoking every day in the country.
The roundtable, titled ‘From Fragility to Resilience: Strengthening Tobacco Control in Pakistan’, was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change.
It brought together prominent voices from Pakistan and international stakeholders to address the urgent need for stronger tobacco control policies.
Speakers called for stringent action to curb the influence of the tobacco industry, implement robust taxation policies, and adopt international best practices to eliminate tobacco addiction in Pakistan.
Former special assistant to the prime minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said Pakistan should shift its approach from merely controlling tobacco to fully eradicating it, similar to New Zealand’s successful model.
Despite existing regulations, progress remains slow due to inconsistent enforcement and industry influence, he added.
Dr Mirza said: “A tax earmarking mechanism for health budgets and engaging regulatory bodies like Pemra to monitor media portrayals of tobacco are essential steps.”
He commended the recommendations of the experts during the roundtable advocating for the concepts of plain packaging and taxation as workable and helpful.
“Pemra should be taken on board to contain product placement of tobacco products in entertainment industry. Moreover, tobacco taxation needs to be linked with earmarking of the health budget,” he said.
Dr Minhaj us Siraj, Syndicate Health, said the best practices globally were to publish graphic health warnings on the front and back of cigarette packets.
“In Pakistan's legislative setup and implementation framework plain packaging is still a dream in tobacco control realm as interference of tobacco industry and legal challenges to it are countered by the narratives of tobacco smuggling and counterfeit products by the industry,” he said.
“Tobacco control is an ever-evolving subject. Taxes must be increased more on cigarettes and others keeping in view the hazards and growth. The government had to prepare solid proposals to spend taxes collected from the tobacco industry,” he added.
Anees Ahmed from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) said: "Pakistan must strengthen its graphic health warnings on tobacco products and enforce plain packaging laws. International studies, particularly from Australia, have shown that increased visibility of health warnings lead to significant reductions in smoking rates.”
He said it was critical to address new products like nicotine pouches, which lacked regulation and were marketed aggressively to youth.
Dr Amina Khan from The Initiative Islamabad said: “We need to transition to a tobacco-free Pakistan. Comprehensive strategies, including plain packaging and consistent tax hikes, have shown effectiveness worldwide.”
However, Dr Khan said, political will was essential for sustained progress.
“Nicotine pouches, a growing trend, are a gateway to traditional smoking and must be brought under stringent legislation, as seen in neighboring countries,” she said.
Asiya Arif from SPARC said the global best practices start from Australia not only from plain packaging of cigarettes but also for other tobacco products as well.
She called for more research to probe the hazards of HTPs, vapes and e-cigarettes.
Sana Ahmed highlighted the need for stronger provincial laws, noting that the KP government’s attempt to ban nicotine pouches faced pushback from the industry. She added that, despite obstacles, KP had raised its tobacco tax from six to 25 rupees, with plans for further increases to curb youth access.
John Thomi from NTA, Kenya, called for a comprehensive taxation framework for tobacco products, including nicotine pouches, which often escape effective taxation and monitoring worldwide.
He emphasised that such products were consumed across different socioeconomic groups and suggested that a track-and-trace system could reduce illicit trade.
Sania Ali Khan emphasised the need for urgent legislation to regulate products like heated tobacco (HTPs) and nicotine pouches in Pakistan, as these items increasingly tempt the country's youth and act as gateways to smoking.
Ms Khan noted the severe health risks posed by nicotine pouches, which impact brain function and even DNA.
With 1,200 children under 15 beginning to smoke daily, she cited measures taken by countries like China and India to ban such products, adding that the recent KP government ban on cigarette sales to youth under 20 was a positive step.
Speaking from Kenya, Elvina Majiwa advocated for strategies that encourage youth to quit smoking to protect long-term health and finances, underscoring that tobacco industry profits should not come at the cost of public health.
The speakers urged immediate action to counteract the social and economic costs of tobacco consumption, which currently burdens Pakistan with a healthcare cost exceeding Rs700 billion.
