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.SRINAGAR: Powerful torrents driven by intense rain that smashed into a Himalayan mountain village, Chasoti town of Kishtwar district, in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir killed at least 58 people while dozens are still missing, an official said.
Disaster management official while talking to media revealed that it was the second major deadly flooding disaster in India during the month.
“Dead bodies of 58 people have been recovered,” Irshad, a top disaster management official told the media person, adding there was no count of any missing people available.
Irshad also revealed that 150 wounded people were also rescued from the disaster site, “50 of whom are severely injured”, all sent to nearby hospitals.
Sushil Kumar, a resident of nearby Atholi village, has revealed the horrible tale saying, “I saw at least 15 dead bodies brought to the local hospital.”
The disaster occurred in Chasoti town of Kishtwar district, a pit stop on a popular pilgrimage route. It comes a little over a week after a heavy flood and mudslide engulfed an entire village in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
Earlier, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma said, “We have found 57 dead bodies and rescued 35 injured people. There are chances of more dead bodies being found.”
Visuals on television showed pilgrims crying in fear as water flooded the village. Local TV channels said the floodwater had washed away community kitchens set up for pilgrims.
The disaster occurred at 11:30am, Ramesh Kumar, the divisional commissioner of Kishtwar district, told the media, adding that local police and disaster response officials had reached the scene.
“The news is grim and accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloudburst is slow in arriving,” Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, said in a post on X.
A cloudburst, according to the Indian Meteorological Department, is a sudden, intense downpour of over 100 millimetres of rain in just one hour that can trigger sudden floods, landslides, and devastation, especially in mountainous regions during the monsoon.
The local weather office in Srinagar predicted intense showers for several regions in occupied Kashmir on Thursday, including Kishtwar, asking residents to stay away from loose structures, electric poles and old trees as there was a possibility of mudslides and flash floods.
Crowds gathered at a Kishtwar hospital while people carried some of the injured on stretchers.
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