Islamabad: Rising tobacco and nicotine use among Pakistan’s youth, especially around educational institutions, emerged as the central concern at a national review session on tobacco control held by the Aurat Foundation in Islamabad.
Participants from Parliament, government departments, health organizations, and civil society warned that easy availability of cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches, and flavored tobacco near schools is creating a growing public health threat. The discussion also pointed to a noticeable increase in tobacco use among women, indicating a shifting trend.
The session called for stronger legislation, faster policy action, and strict enforcement to counter the rapid spread of emerging nicotine products. Speakers emphasized that existing laws remain poorly implemented due to procedural delays, weak monitoring, and limited coordination between federal and provincial bodies.
The need for clear parental awareness, community engagement, and better recognition of new nicotine products was highlighted as an essential part of early prevention. Officials noted that families and schools often remain unaware of modern products marketed to young people.
Technical briefings identified major enforcement gaps and policy loopholes that allow the tobacco industry to expand its reach. Participants noted that companies are increasingly using social media trends, entertainment content, and youth-focused marketing to promote vaping in urban areas.
Government representatives reaffirmed ongoing federal efforts to implement the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance 2002 and to tighten regulations where required. Provincial representatives also announced plans to introduce new resolutions to strengthen tobacco control.
Education sector officials raised alarms over the rise of nicotine products around private institutions and called for tougher regulatory checks. Regulatory authorities stressed the need for a broader social movement to counter tobacco use nationwide.
Closing the event, the Aurat Foundation reiterated its commitment to evidence-based advocacy, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term public awareness initiatives aimed at building a healthier, tobacco-free society.MIRPUR (Azad Kashmir):
Kotli Police in a major operation against drug smugglers claimed to have busted a gang of drugs smugglers.
The police have arrested 16 members of the gang with 14 kilograms of heroin, worth hundreds of million rupees in the international market. The police officials also recovered four million rupees in cash, SSP Kotli Irfan Saleem said in a media briefing.
The arrested accused are members of an international drug gang and they were engaged in smuggling of drugs to the United Kingdom for past 30 years, the officer claimed.
The drugs were smuggled to the country in concealed pockets of jackets and through other means, the police officer said. Police also recovered 16 jackets from their possession during the raid, the SSP said. The 13 members of the drug gang were still hiding in Dubai and the UK, the Senior Superintendent Police said.
The accused had opened a bank account in the name of a shopkeeper through which, 102.2 million rupees were transferred to drug dealers, the SSP said.
The Kotli Police had also busted another drug gang in November last year, arresting four members of the gang and captured 8.6 KG of heroin. The gang was engaged in smuggling heroin to the United Kingdom through innocent relatives of expatriates.
