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: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) finalized strategy for upcoming longmarch towards Islamabad and it started mobilizing workers for public meeting at D-Chowk, Islamabad, and directed them to be fully equipped to counter any untoward situation.
PML-N has directed all the party leaders, MNAs, MPAs, ticket holders and district heads to start mobilizing workers and supporters to reach Jati Umra and Model Town in Lahore to accompany the caravan led by Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz.
Party leadership has intensified its preparations for the upcoming event, adding that the workers of adjoining areas of Islamabad and other cities had been directed to reach D-Chowk a day before the scheduled public meeting.
The PML-N leadership was further directed to make alternative plans in case the government created hurdles on their way to Islamabad. Party stalwarts, including PML-N’s Punjab President Rana Sanaullah, Khwaja Saad Raffique, Pervaiz Rasheed, Ayaz Sadiq, Javed Latif and other central leaders were given different tasks with regard to arrangements for the upcoming event.
Similarly, the local leadership of different cities, such as Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Jhang, Mianwali, Sargodha, Multan and Rawalpindi were asked to setup welcome camps alongside the route of the rally, starting from Lahore.
The party sources said Maryam Nawaz allotted different colours to the female parliamentarians and they were asked to mobilize female workers. The female party leaders who were assigned responsibilities for the upcoming event included MPA Hina Pervaiz Butt, Ayesha Raza, Kiran Dar, Sania Ashiq, Sumbal Malik Hussain, Ayesha Ghous Pasha, Bushra Butt, Kanwal Pervez, Rukhsana Kausar and Rahat Afza.
They added the party leadership has also directed the male parliamentarians, ticket holders and local leaders to bring at least 1,000 males and 250 females workers with them. They further said that all leaders were directed to move in flocks with their workers to avoid any possible arrest and to break any siege. Besides, the workers were also directed to stage sit-in wherever they were stopped.
On the other hand, PMLN Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has also released a video message to the party workers asking them to get ready to reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk on a short notice.
“Use of baton charge or tear gas will worsen the situation and all the responsibility of the possible backlash will be on the shoulders of Imran Khan,” he stated.
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