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.NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of New Delhi, on Wednesday said that Indian army should be called in to restore calm in New Delhi after police failed to take control of the Indian capital in the wake of anti-Muslim riots that have left at least 22 dead this week.
“I have been in touch with large number of people whole night. Situation alarming. Police, despite all its efforts, unable to control situation and instill confidence. Army should be called in and curfew imposed in rest of affected areas immediately,” Kejriwal said on Twitter.
However, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday dismissed fears that the police had failed to control the situation in New Delhi. “There are enough forces on the ground and no one needs to fear,” Doval said.
The two largest political parties of India, meanwhile, resorted to trading blames over the violence, that has been condemned worldwide. Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said that Delhi Police had remained paralyzed as lives were lost in the deadly Delhi riots.
“Delhi Police has remained paralyzed in the last 72 hours-around 18 lives have been lost so far, including a head constable. Hundreds are in hospital, many with gunshot injuries. Violence continues unabated on the streets of North East Delhi,” Sonia Gandhi said.
“The Centre and the Union Home Minister is responsible for the present situation in Delhi. The Union Home Minister should resign. The chief minister of Delhi must be visible in the affected areas,” Congress leader added.
The clashes began on Monday between people supporting and opposing the citizenship law, then descended into pitched battles between the mobs. Twenty people died and nearly 200 others were wounded in the first two days of violence, the director of the hospital where people were taken.
Sixty people had suffered gunshot wounds, according to the director, Sunil Kumar. The area is home to mostly poorer economic migrants living in many shanty neighbourhoods, and some fled on Wednesday ahead of more expected clashes. “People are killing (each other). Bullets are being fired here,” a tailor in the Jaffrabad area said.
A video circulated on social media, showed men ripping off the muezzin’s loudspeaker on top of the mosque’s minaret and placing a Hindu religious flag and an Indian flag. The new citizenship law has raised worries abroad that Modi wants to remould secular India into a Hindu nation while marginalising the country´s 200 million Muslims, a claim he denies.
The law expedites the citizenship applications for persecuted minorities from India´s three Muslim-majority neighbouring countries, but not if they are Muslim. The flare-up in violence occurred as US President Donald Trump visited India and held talks with Modi in Delhi on Tuesday. But Trump left as scheduled on Tuesday and his visit was not visibly interrupted by the violence.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attempted to gag media amid deadly violence in New Delhi. The Indian government has instructed news channels that they must be cautious about airing content that incited violence and promote anti-national attitudes, reported said.
Fresh violence tore through northeast Delhi on Tuesday, taking the death toll in the communal clashes over the amended citizenship law to 20.
Read more: Death toll in Indian riots jumps to 18 while 150 injured in India’s capital
