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: Justice Athar Minallah of Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has cast doubts on the autonomy of Pakistan’s judicial system, saying the country needed “an independent judiciary and judges”.
While speaking during an event organized by the Defence of Human Rights, Justice Athar Minallah revealed, “If the state is involved in missing persons cases, the courts cannot do anything”.
It was difficult to speak the truth, and the one who does “is hated the most”, the top court’s judge termed the cases involving missing persons as “most difficult”, Minallah expressed his dismay on ongoing situation.
Justice Minallah’s remarks come against the backdrop of allegations of human rights violations leveled by various organizations and segments of societies concerning enforced disappearances in the country — an accusation vehemently denied by the government and state institutions.
Meanwhile, the apex court judge’s call for independent judges and the judiciary is to be interpreted in the context of a letter penned by five Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in 2024, complaining of alleged interference of members of the executive, including operatives of intelligence agencies, in judicial affairs.
The IHC judges include Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Fafat Imtiaz.
Earlier this week, CJP Yahya Afridi-led National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) meeting decided that any judge facing external interference in judicial matters must lodge a complaint within 24 hours.
Recalling that his judgement on the missing persons issue resulted in positive reverberations for four years, he said: “I told my officer that I cannot tolerate missing persons cases in my area.”
He added: “I said in the decision that no leniency will be shown to any government officer in the missing persons case.”
Noting that the state’s job was to protect its subjects, the SC judge stressed that the government is responsible for carrying out accountability and protecting everyone.
“Every judge of the Supreme Court is responsible for the violation of fundamental rights in Pakistan,” he said. “Balochistan’s girls and women are crying on the streets; we should be ashamed.”
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