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.LAHORE: Indian in the wake of heightening made efforts to choke river water flow into Pakistan have failed as total inflows in the country’s major rivers surged past 236,000 cusecs, according to data gathered.
The latest figures reveal that the cumulative inflow in rivers across Pakistan has reached 236,000 cusecs, with River Chenab at Head Marala alone receiving 66,000 cusecs.
At Mangla, the inflow in the River Jhelum was recorded at 50,000 cusecs. The River Indus at Tarbela saw an inflow of 83,000 cusecs, while the Kabul River at Nowshera recorded an inflow of 36,000 cusecs.
Currently, the total usable water storage in Pakistan’s major reservoirs stands at 1.979 million acre-feet.
Besides, around 2,000 cusecs of water is flowing into the Arabian Sea.
The latest water situation paints a picture of abundance despite New Delhi’s recent threats and hostile rhetoric surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty.
According to the Wapda, the inflow at Tarbela stood at 83,400 cusecs, with an outflow of 55,000 cusecs.
At Mangla, the inflow was recorded at 50,100 cusecs, while the outflow was 32,000 cusecs. In the case of the River Chenab at Head Marala, the inflow was noted at 40,900 cusecs and the outflow at 26,700 cusecs.
The Kabul River at Nowshera recorded both an inflow and outflow of 36,700 cusecs. At Chashma Barrage, inflows were logged at 101,700 cusecs and outflows at 78,000 cusecs.
As for reservoir levels, the water level at Tarbela on May 3 was 1,435.66 feet with a storage capacity of 658,000 acre-feet. At Mangla, the water level stood at 1,134.80 feet, with the reservoir holding 1.164 million acre-feet.
The Chashma Reservoir recorded a water level of 645.50 feet with 157,000 acre-feet of stored water.
Combined, the three reservoirs – Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma – held 1.979 million acre-feet of usable water.
A Wapda spokesperson clarified that the inflow and outflow figures for Tarbela, Chashma, Mangla, and Nowshera reflect 24-hour average flow rates, whereas data from other stations was recorded at 6:00 am this morning.
Meanwhile, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Saturday released 190,200 cusecs of water from various rim stations with an inflow of 236,700 cusecs.
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