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.Islamabad: Meta in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) educational platform, EYEYAH!, has launched a social campaign and interactive online experience named “Is This Legit?” to raise awareness for common scam traps within Pakistan. This initiative is part of a broader APAC-wide campaign rolling out across more than 15 countries, promoting safer digital experiences.
The campaign educates users on seven prevalent scam types, including romance, shopping, impersonation, investment, job, account hacking and messaging scams through engaging and gamified content designed to build awareness of scam indicators and red flags.
Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, HI (M) SI, commended the collaboration, emphasizing PTA’s ongoing commitment to fostering a secure and informed digital environment. He highlighted the initiative as a continuation of PTA and Meta’s joint efforts to enhance digital literacy and protect users from fraudulent activities.
Dania Mukhtar, Head of Pakistan Public Policy at Meta, said, “At Meta, we are deeply committed to safeguarding our community in Pakistan by proactively removing scammers from our platforms. However, scammers are always changing their tactics, targeting many apps and platforms all at once, to make it hard for them to get caught. We recognize that awareness and education are powerful tools for online users. Through this campaign, we aim to help people in Pakistan identify common red flags in an interactive and engaging way, empowering them to stay safe from scams.
We appreciate the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for helping us amplify this initiative and empower the community with the knowledge and resources needed to protect themselves online.”
PTA and Meta continue to play a leading role in promoting digital literacy, protecting users from online threats, and ensuring a secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem for all.
