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: Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi Tuesday said that India should be tried for criminally misleading the World opinion as EU Disinfo Lab had fully exposed a network of fake media outlets and NGOs created by India to mislead the world opinion.
Addressing the audience of a seminar held here with regard to the rights to self determination day of Kashmir, Shehryar Afridi said that India can no more keep its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
Afridi said that the Kashmiri people ask United Nations Security Council to materialise its commitment to hold an impartial and free plebiscite to decide their fate independently.
He said that Pakistan would keep exposing the Indian expansionist agenda and India can no more mislead the world on its expansionist designs in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that as Minister for SAFRON, he had invited United Nations Secretary General to Pakistan and he pledged to stand by the UN resolutions on Kashmir dispute.
Afridi said that Kashmir Committee has been reaching out to all stakeholders of Kashmir to develop its policy on Kashmir dispute.
He said all political parties had representation in Kashmir Committee and the Committee was working to help raise the Kashmir issue with a single voice.
He said that tribal Pashtuns had joined hands with the Kashmiri freedom fighters to help liberate Jammu and Kashmir in 1948 and even today, the people of Pakistan stand by Kashmiris through thick and thin.
He said that India was using hundreds of fake NGOs, fake media organisations and fake websites to mislead the world opinion on Kashmir and EU Disinfo Lab had fully exposed the Indian vicious designs. “Today, even the Indian minorities are saying that Jinnah had taken a right decision by getting an independent state for the Muslims of India. Modi regime has been fully exposed due to its expansionist agenda,” he said.
Afridi said that no one can think of making a compromise on two major security issues of Pakistan – our nuclear program and our Kashmir policy. He said the youth of Pakistan need to become bloggers, vlogers and social media activists to help counter fake propaganda by fake Indian social media sites. He said that Pakistan is working to globally expose the Indian expansionist agenda by using modern tools of information technology.
He said that Pakistan was supporting Kashmiris as a humanitarian cause and we will never compromise on this sacred cause. He said that all political parties must speak with one voice on Kashmir and we need to speak with a single voice on Kashmir leaving behind petty political differences.
Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider said that Indian forces were present in Jammu and Kashmir even before freedom fighters launched movement.
He quoted some incidents from history to point out the fact how Kashmiri freedom struggle continued despite Indian imperialist designs.
He said that Pakistan’s new political map had been drafted on his advice and Junagadh was added to the map on his proposal. He said that Kashmir issue was debated at the European Union due to efforts by the Kashmiri diaspora and the sacrifices made by the Kashmiris.
He said media coverage could better raise the awareness on Kashmir dispute.
He said that Hindutva regime of India was trying to establish an imperialistic rule with an expansionist agenda and Pakistan was the only hurdle in Indian designs.
He said Modi regime was working to create a Hindu Rashtra by annexing its neighbouring countries using its military might and Pakistan and other regional countries must take action in this regard.
