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: The Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) said that country s carpet industry had great potential to dominate global markets with innovative designs.
PCMEA Senior Vice Chairman Riaz Ahmed stated this in a meeting here at Carpet Training Institute (CTI) and a several members of the association also participated in the meeting through video link due to second wave of Covid-2019 pandemic.
They also submitted their proposals to increase the exports of Pakistani carpets in the international market.
On the occasion, Riaz Ahmed said that social media could be used as a tool for suitable marketing to increase exports of the country in a befitting manner. He said that industry could contribute substantially to country s export revenues annually. However, he added, the international markets of many countries were being ignored, due to which, the carpet industry is unable to gain more and positive results. He suggested the government to take measures to reduce cost of production and provide facilities to exporters to achieve result-oriented targets.
He also urged the government to form a think-tank to study the international market of developed countries. “We should not ignore even a small country by keeping in mind that it was in the best interest of the country as well as carpet industry and the social media is a perfect platform to gain the positive results,” he remarked.
The PCMEA leader also suggested the government to direct the officials in Pakistani embassies to make a directory of those doing carpet business so that exporters could contact them easily. He said these foreign businessmen should be invited in the embassies. He said after this, Pakistani manufacturers would be informed about the results of these meetings so that they could be updated about the tendencies of different products besides knowing about market trends. He also demanded the government to take measures for the solution of problems being faced by the exporters.
