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.MIANWALI: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday he had “promised Allah that he would not let go of those who robbed the country”, and, therefore, accountability would continue regardless of what the Opposition did.
Addressing a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a hospital here in the city’s Namal Valley, Khan noted that a modern hospital would help the people of Mianwali. The government would upgrade the Mianwali Hospital as well, he added.
“The world remembers a person who does something for its people,” the premier said.
Among those in attendance were his friend and British-Pakistani businessperson, Aneel Musarrat, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Advisor on Commerce, Textiles, Industries, and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, and a large number of overseas Pakistanis.
On corruption, Khan warned those who claimed that they would not answer that “we will extract answers from them”. Those who threaten, raise a hue and cry, and stage drama, they were the same people who tried to use influence from abroad as well, the premier said.
The premier added that he had submitted some 60 documents to the Supreme Court of Pakistan whereas those who raised a hue and cry “only submitted Qatari letters and Calibri font documents”.
The PM further underscored that none of the cases against the Opposition leader was filed by the incumbent government but that it just let the institutions operate independently and gave them full authority to proceed without any pressure.
Terming corruption as the biggest impediment in the country’s progress, Khan said the looters of public money would be held accountable at every cost. He mentioned: “This time, the powerful will come under the claw of accountability … [those] who had inflicted immense damage to the country during their tenures.
“I have been waiting for this moment for 22 years [of my political struggle] to bring to book those who plundered public money,” he said, noting that national culprits were dubbing accountability as “political revenge and a threat to democracy.
“In fact, they want to hide their corruption but people are well aware of these political gimmicks,” he said.
He wished to restore the confidence of international investors in Pakistan by ending corruption, Khan said, adding that several overseas Pakistani entrepreneurs had told him that they were willing to invest in the country but were hesitant over the menace of corruption.
The premier expressed confidence that Pakistan would achieve the status of a strong and prosperous country as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had started taking tough measures in the best national interest.
“It’s my promise to the nation that I will get this country on the trajectory of development,” he said.
Khan also invited the private sector to step forward in adopting the country’s major hospitals and join the government’s journey of bringing improvement in the health sector.
“Under the adopt-a-hospital project, we can bring a significant change in the health sector through a public-private partnership,” he said, adding that the government alone could not revamp all medical facilities across Pakistan but the private sector’s financial assistance could yield positive results.
He said several other groups had also approached him to adopt a hospital, which was an encouraging sign.
