KARACHI: On the eve of World No-Tobacco Day, experts have highlighted the urgency to protect the youth from what they described as the “newer tobacco traps” and demanded a ban on these products within all educational institutions.

Speaking at an awareness session held on Friday at the Indus Hospital, they emphasised that no tobacco product is safe. In fact, they pointed out, some of them are even more addictive than conventional cigarettes.

The event was organised in connection with Word No-Tobacco Day, which is being observed on Saturday (today).

Sharing her concerns, Dr Saima Saeed, heading the hospital’s pulmonology department, said that up to five per cent of the youth in Pakistan were using vaping and that almost half of those interviewed in a survey admitted that someone in their family was also using the newer tobacco products.

Indus Hospital holds awareness event to mark World No-Tobacco Day

“The tobacco addiction landscape keeps on changing. The latest being e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches. None of them is safe, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products have deleterious effects not only on the respiratory system but also on the cardiovascular, immune, renal and central nervous systems,” she said.

She raised alarm over manufacturers’ deceptive media strategy of propagating these products as harmless. “There are no local regulations, banning these harmful products as e-cigarettes are not classified under tobacco products,” she regretted.

Dr Mujahid Hussain explained how a person using any tobacco products can be helped out. “Nicotine is a powerful addictive substance in any form. But, with sustained efforts, many users can quit.acz

‘170,000 lives lost annually due to tobacco use’

In its message, the Pakistan Chest Society (PCS) stated that tobacco use is a major public health crisis in Pakistan which claims over 170,000 lives annually.

“It is the leading cause of cancer, heart diseases, and lung diseases, imposing a staggering economic burden of approximately Rs700 billion per year. The tobacco epidemic in Pakistan demands immediate attention and action,” said Prof Javaid Khan, president of Sindh chapter of PCS.

He referred to a recent study in Karachi, indicating that 68pc of college and university students used e-cigarettes.

“Companies are aggressively promoting new nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which are as harmful as conventional cigarettes,” he said.

On behalf of the society, he urged the government to increase taxes on tobacco products, regulate new nicotine products and launch public awareness campaigns to educate the youth and adults about the dangers of tobacco.

Tobacco production and consumption contributes to deforestation, water pollution and climate change, he added.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2025