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: Rising Pakistani women business leaders will have access to world-class mentoring and training through the expansion of the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council, a unique public-private partnership between the U.S. Government, Texas A&M University, and private companies and organizations in the United States and Pakistan.
This announcement came during an event at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, where U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Paul Jones, his wife Catherine Jones, Karachi Consul General JoAnne Wagner, Women’s Council Executive Director Radhika Prabhu, and members of Karachi’s business community and civil society met to celebrate the launch of the second phase of the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council.
In launching this second phase, the Council welcomes new members Hashoo Group, The Indus Entrepreneurs, U.S.-Pakistan Business Council, American Pakistan Foundation, INDUS, We Connect International, STEM Connector, and Quantum Leaps.
They join current Council member companies Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Engro, General Electric, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, S&P Global, and The Resource Group.
Speaking to the assembled group, Ambassador Jones thanked the member organizations for the work they have done to date. “Since its founding, the Council and its members have taken the lead on getting more women into the workforce…They are leading the charge for progressive workplace policies in Pakistan and are proof that what’s good for women is good for
business and the nation’s economy.”
He also announced two new Council initiatives: the Million Women Mentor Initiative and the Women’s Business
Opportunity Initiative.
The Million Women Mentor Initiative is launched with STEM Connector, a U.S.-based company that has fostered over two million mentoring relationships in coordination with 200 organizations and corporations. Council member S&P Global has already pledged to create 20,000 mentoring relationships.
WEConnect International will lead the Women’s Business Opportunity Initiative, a program to train and certify women-owned businesses to enter global supply chains. WEConnect is a corporate-led non-profit that convenes more than 80 multinational corporations, primarily Fortune 500 companies, committed to sourcing from women-owned businesses globally.
Ambassador Alice Wells, Senior Bureau Official for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and co-chair of the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council said, “Pakistani women are critical to Pakistan’s economic growth, development and security yet they face a range of barriers to achieving their full economic potential. The U.S.-Pakistan
Women’s Council works with the private sector in both the United States and Pakistan to foster women’s employment, accelerate women’s entrepreneurship, and increase access to educational opportunities for women and girls.”
