ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP):The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) here on Thursday organized a stakeholder dialogue to address the escalating threats posed by tobacco and emerging nicotine products to Pakistani youth.
Speakers highlighted that in recent years, Pakistan had witnessed a concerning rise in the availability, marketing and use of new nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco devices which were promoted as “safer alternatives” and strategically targeted at young people.
Speaking at the event, Syed Shariq Jamal, Member Sindh Assembly, reaffirmed the government’s responsibility to safeguard children and youth from harmful and addictive substances. He described emerging nicotine products as “silent killers” that are being aggressively pushed into the market without oversight and emphasized that legislation must evolve in response to the industry’s tactics. He stressed the need for comprehensive laws addressing the production, distribution, marketing, and sale of all nicotine and tobacco products and urged all political parties to work collectively to ensure a tobacco free future for Pakistan’s youth. He further noted that the Sindh Assembly is committed to exploring all necessary legislative measures, including regulating new nicotine products, closing loopholes, and strengthening penalties for violations related to underage access.
Representing the health department Sindh, Jamshed Alam Memon Special Secretary Health, highlighted that tobacco use remains one of Pakistan’s most pressing public health challenges, noting that approximately 166,000 people lose their lives every year due to tobacco related diseases. He stressed that youth are especially vulnerable due to aggressive industry marketing and widespread misconceptions surrounding products such as vapes and nicotine pouches.
He reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to protecting young people and emphasized the need for strong laws, effective enforcement, taxation measures, public awareness campaigns, and vigilance against misleading promotions. He also called for closer coordination between the health department, education institutions, law enforcement agencies, and civil society to curb the rising trend of nicotine addiction among adolescents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. Farah Iqbal, Chairperson of the Department of Psychology at the University of Karachi, addressed the common misconception that tobacco can alleviate depression or other mental health issues. She emphasized that this belief is a harmful myth. In reality, nicotine negatively affects mood over time, impairs brain function, and fosters strong psychological dependence. Rather than providing relief, the use of tobacco and other nicotine products exacerbates emotional challenges and heightens the risk of long term mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, stress, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Addressing the participants, Dr. Khalil Ahmad Dogar, Program Manager at SPARC, drew attention to the rapid growth of new tobacco and nicotine products in Pakistan. He noted that, due to the complete absence of regulations, the tobacco industry continues to introduce new products without disclosure, compliance checks, or proper health warnings. He stressed that young people are being exposed to products whose harms are deliberately disguised and underscored the urgent need for a regulatory framework that includes standardized packaging, taxation, display bans, ingredient disclosure, licensing laws, and restrictions on youth access and online sales.
The dialogue was attended by representatives from the Sindh government, policymakers, public health professionals, legal experts, journalists, academics, civil society organizations and youth groups.
