{"id":5212,"date":"2025-05-31T07:13:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T07:13:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wnp.com.pk\/?p=5212"},"modified":"2025-05-31T07:13:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T07:13:28","slug":"pakistan-marks-world-no-tobacco-day-with-nationwide-calls-for-tougher-regulation-higher-taxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/2025\/05\/31\/pakistan-marks-world-no-tobacco-day-with-nationwide-calls-for-tougher-regulation-higher-taxes\/","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan marks World No Tobacco Day with nationwide calls for tougher regulation, higher taxes"},"content":{"rendered":"

ISLAMABAD, Saturday, May 31 : As Pakistan joined the global observance of World No Tobacco Day 2025 on Saturday, policymakers, public health experts, and civil society organizations called for urgent and comprehensive measures to curb rising tobacco consumption, particularly among the country\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n

In her official message, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif warned of the devastating consequences of tobacco use, describing it as \u201can epidemic, a poison that threatens our lives, homes, and loved ones.\u201d She emphasized that smoking is not merely a harmful habit but a grave public health threat, and highlighted the provincial government\u2019s ongoing legal and awareness initiatives aimed at creating tobacco-free schools, hospitals, and public spaces.<\/p>\n

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\u201cRaising awareness about the harms of smoking is not just the government\u2019s responsibility\u2014it is a shared duty,\u201d the Chief Minister stated, urging parents, teachers, scholars, and civil society to unite in building a smoke-free future.<\/p>\n

According to recent estimates, over 23 million Pakistanis use tobacco products, contributing to more than 160,000 deaths annually from tobacco-related diseases, including cancer, heart conditions, and respiratory ailments. One in every five adults in the country smokes, while approximately 10% of schoolchildren aged 13 to 15 are also reported to be using tobacco products.<\/p>\n

Public health advocate Dr. Sana Rauf expressed concern over the increasing appeal of smoking among the youth, citing social media marketing and the widespread availability of single-stick cigarettes as major enablers. \u201cDespite laws, enforcement remains weak. Youth are falling victim to aggressive tobacco industry tactics,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Anti-tobacco campaigners identified three major challenges in controlling tobacco use: easy access to cigarettes, industry-driven promotional strategies, and weak implementation of existing laws.<\/p>\n

In Peshawar, the civil society organization Blue Veins, in collaboration with Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and the Provincial Alliance for Sustainable Tobacco Control, hosted a multi-stakeholder awareness event themed \u201cUnmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Tariq Khan Barki of LRH criticized deceptive marketing by tobacco companies. \u201cWe witness firsthand the human cost of tobacco addiction\u2014from chronic illnesses to death. It\u2019s time to strictly regulate these manipulative tactics,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Speakers including Dr. Ihtesham and psychologist Dr. Qazi highlighted the psychological manipulation used by the tobacco industry to glamorize its products. Qamar Naseem, Program Manager at Blue Veins, underscored the industry\u2019s interference in policymaking and called for stronger, systemic resistance through legislation and public awareness.<\/p>\n

In Islamabad, the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) and Youth Advocates Against Tobacco (YAAT) clubs organized a dynamic event to amplify youth voices. Through speeches, music, films, and art, young participants condemned the tobacco industry\u2019s efforts to target them.<\/p>\n

Dr. Khalil Ahmad Dogar, Program Manager at SPARC, proposed a Rs. 39 per pack increase in the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes for FY 2025\u201326. He revealed that the shift toward low-taxed economy brands is costing the national exchequer billions. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about health\u2014it\u2019s about fiscal integrity,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the federal budget, think tanks including the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) held a seminar focused on tobacco taxation.<\/p>\n

Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, called on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to align tax mechanisms with income levels and public health priorities. SPDC\u2019s Asif Iqbal proposed a Rs. 40 per pack increase in FED and challenged the tobacco industry\u2019s exaggerated claims about illicit trade.<\/p>\n

Dr. Waseem Saleem, Technical Advisor on tobacco taxation at the WHO, estimated that Pakistan lost PKR 82 billion in potential revenue over two years due to tax stagnation and shifting production patterns.<\/p>\n

Other speakers advocated for a single-tier tax system, improved Track and Trace enforcement, and clear regulation of emerging products like vapes and nicotine pouches.<\/p>\n

At a policy dialogue on Friday, parliamentarians, FBR officials, and health experts echoed demands for stronger laws and enforcement. MNA Saher Kamran highlighted her legislative efforts, while MNA Sabeen Ghauri stressed the need to modernize laws to cover all nicotine products.<\/p>\n

MPA Tahira Mushtaq called for a provincial levy in Punjab and regulation of e-cigarettes, while MNA Naeema Kishwar Khan urged support for tobacco farmers to transition to alternative crops.<\/p>\n

Safdar Raza of Aurat Foundation criticized the current two-tier tax structure, calling it a loophole for industry evasion. He and Ms. Mumtaz Mughal also emphasized the gendered impact of tobacco, particularly on women-led households.<\/p>\n

Dr. Arsalan Haider, Director of the Tobacco Control Cell at the Ministry of Health, reiterated the government’s commitment to WHO\u2019s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). He said legislative amendments are being finalized to address legal gaps.<\/p>\n

Dr. Shabana Saleem, Director General at the Ministry of National Health Services, confirmed that the ministry has submitted a comprehensive proposal to revive the Tobacco Control Cell and raise tobacco taxes in the upcoming budget. \u201cThis is not just a health issue\u2014it\u2019s an economic imperative,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n

The dialogue concluded with a unanimous call for comprehensive tax reforms, robust law enforcement, and cross-sectoral cooperation to stem Pakistan\u2019s tobacco epidemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ISLAMABAD, Saturday, May 31 : As Pakistan joined the global observance of World No Tobacco Day 2025 on Saturday, policymakers, public health experts, and civil society organizations called for urgent and comprehensive measures to curb rising tobacco consumption, particularly among the country\u2019s youth. In her official message, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif warned of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5200,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,40],"tags":[44,43],"class_list":["post-5212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","category-national","tag-latest","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}