Smoking in Pakistan
According to the WHO data, as of 2024, there were approximately 18.3 million smokers in Pakistan. This figure represents an increase from 17.5 million smokers in 2022 and equal number of 18.3 million in 2020. The adult current smoking prevalence rate in 2024 was reported to be 11.6%, a slight decrease from 12% in 2022 and 13.1% in 2020. The current smoking prevalence among males in 2024 was 20.6%, a slight reduction from 22.7% in 2020, while among females it was 2.6% in 2023, a slight decrease from 2.7% in 2022. For reference, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2014 was 11.5% with 20.1% among males and only 2% among females. There were 14.5 million daily smokers in the same year. In 2021, tobacco smoking caused 7.59% of all deaths in the country, equating to 130,593 tobacco-related fatalities, with males accounting for 106,028 deaths and females for 24,565. Despite a reduction in recent years, these prevalence and mortality statistics underscore the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Pakistan, informing government strategies aimed at reducing tobacco health impacts.
Read articles from Pakistan
October 27, 2020 by dailytimes.com.pk
Tobacco Harm Reduction
Tobacco harm reduction (THR) is a health strategy implemented to curtail the risks associated with tobacco products to users and society at large. The concept of THR dates back to 1976 when Professor Michael Russell, also considered the father of tobacco harm reduction, stated that people smoke for nicotine but they die from the tar. Russell’s advocacy that the ratio of tar to nicotine could be the key to a less harmful smoking experience has served as a stencil for strategies implemented against tobacco harm by health organizations today.
October 26, 2020 by thenews.com.pk
Global review on use of e-cigarettes as anti-smoking aid sparks debate in Pakistan
Islamabad : Even though a belated development, medical professionals and representatives of tobacco control entities in Pakistan have finally broken the silence around whether e-cigarettes (ECs) should be promoted as effective anti-smoking aids for smokers attempting to quit. The impetus to discuss the use of ECs for smoking cessation—a subject mired in controversy—came from the recently released Cochrane Review which provides “moderate-certainty evidence” that nicotine containing ECs are 70% more effective in supporting smokers to quit as compared to nicotine-free ECs, and even Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). [...]
March 12, 2020 by thenews.com.pk
‘Tobacco control policy on the anvil’
Parliamentary Secretary of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Dr Nausheen Hamid on Wednesday said in order to address the challenges of tobacco control and associated health issues in the country, the national health services ministry in consultation with all stakeholders was working on the country’s first-ever draft National Tobacco Control Policy, which would be finalised within a month. Dr Nausheen Hamid said that research regarding alternative crop against tobacco is currently underway by three agriculture universities to help facilitate the tobacco growers and farmers.
January 23, 2019 by technologytimes.pk
Brain areas work differently for smokers and drinkers
Shanghai scientists have located brain areas of smokers and drinkers, bringing new insights and opening possibilities for stopping addictive behavior. They found that regular smokers tend to have low functional connectivity, especially in the brain area associated with the processing of punishment, while those who drink often have high brain connectivity, especially in the reward-related brain area.
September 10, 2018 by thenews.com.pk
‘Tobacco Companies Targeting Countries Like Pakistan By Glamorising Cigarettes’
Owing to ineffective or lack of laws, multinational tobacco companies are now targeting people in developing countries, including Pakistan, by glamourising cigarettes and coming up with new but deadly products like ‘heating tobacco devices and E-cigarettes’ as people in these countries are still not aware of the actual dangers of tobacco and nicotine, say experts.
August 27, 2018 by dawn.com
Tobacco control advocates hopeful govt will increase tax on cigarettes
ISLAMABAD: After failing to get any result during the previous government, tobacco control advocates are hopeful that the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan will not only take steps to increase revenue collection from the tobacco industry but will also protect the citizens against hazards of smoking.
At present, the country is facing an annual loss of around Rs30 billion due to low taxes on the tobacco industry while health of the youth is at a stake.
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