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.TIANJIN (China): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting held here, as member states convened to discuss pressing international and regional challenges ahead of the bloc’s annual leaders’ summit.
Hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the high-level gathering brought together the foreign ministers of the 10-member Eurasian alliance, which includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Iran. Foreign ministers also in attendance included Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.
The meeting serves as a key precursor to the Council of Heads of State summit scheduled for August 31 and September 1, also in Tianjin.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the foreign ministers and delegates on Tuesday morning, looking forward to meeting with the heads of state in the upcoming month. The foreign ministers signed resolutions and documents at Tuesday’s meeting, inking agreements on cooperation. The ministers also agreed on a drafted communique which will be signed at the upcoming leaders’ summit.
The Pakistani foreign minister’s visit comes at a sensitive time, as Pakistan enters the summit season amid heightened tensions with its neighboring country, India.
In April, India accused Pakistan of being behind the Pahalgam attack without presenting evidence, triggering a military escalation that included air strikes and a week-long missile exchange between the two nuclear-armed rivals. The crisis was eventually defused through a US-brokered ceasefire.
The strain between Islamabad and New Delhi has also spilled over into recent SCO meetings. Earlier this month, the SCO’s defense ministers’ gathering ended without joint communiqué, reportedly due to India’s refusal to endorse a consensus document. Tuesday’s foreign ministers‘ meeting saw a more cautious tone, with member states focusing on common ground while navigating unresolved tensions.
The August summit in Tianjin is expected to tackle a broad range of foreign policy and security issues, including terrorism, multilateral cooperation, and the future direction of the SCO amid a shifting global order. Delegates will also review and adopt declarations and policy documents that will guide the bloc’s strategic agenda.
As one of the SCO’s key stakeholders, Pakistan views the group as an essential platform to pursue its regional and global diplomatic objectives, particularly in a time of rising geopolitical uncertainty.
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