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.LAHORE, Feb 01 (INP): The police investigation has held three women of Iqbal Town guilty of murder of their young housemaid after they confessed to committing the crime.
They have been sent to jail on judicial remand as a case had already been lodged against them with the Iqbal Town Police Station.
The details of the ‘horrific murder’ of Uzma (16) as shared by Iqbal Town Division SP Ali Raza unveiled the scale of brutality and torture the domestic worker had faced at the hands of her employers. She had taken just a bite of food from the plate of the younger daughter of Mahrukh, the lady of the house. The three women, namely Mahrukh, her daughter Aima and her sister-in-law Rehana, were allegedly involved in the murder.
In her application, she had blamed Uzma of stealing money and running away from her home. “Mahrukh had told the police that her husband had died three years back,” SP Raza said while talking to reporters. Her dubious statement was exposed when the police went to her home for investigation and found out that she was mother of one-year-old baby.
This made the police suspicious and they started having doubts about her whole statement regarding the theft.
Later on, further probe revealed that Mahrukh had attacked Uzma with a large ladle as punishment for taking a bite from the food. Uzma fainted due to critical injuries to her head.
“Instead of shifting Uzma to hospital, the family kept her in a room of the house though she was bleeding internally,” the SP said and added that the incident had occurred on Jan 13 while the family kept Uzma in ‘illegal custody’ in deteriorating health condition for days. She succumbed to her injuries on Jan 16.
Mahrukh had visited the Iqbal Town police, submitting an application wherein she had accused Uzma of theft.
“At the time of visit of the police officials, the family was planning to dump her body which they had concealed in the car parked in the garage of their house,” Mr Raza said.
“At the night of the same day, they threw her body into the drain near Moon Market of Allama Iqbal Town,” he added.
The next day, some locals spotted the body and alerted the police. The police contacted Uzma’s father, Muhammad Riaz, who recognised his daughter.
Uzma‘s body was later sent for post-mortem which confirmed her death was caused by head injuries.
“We immediately took Mahrukh into custody, interrogated her and she confessed to injuring Uzma with a ladle over a minor issue,” SP Raza said.
Mahrukh further told the police that her daughter and sister-in-law were also her crime partners. The police had registered a case on complaint of Riaz.
