With smoking continuing to place a significant burden on public health, experts are urging Pakistan to adopt regulatory approaches that can reduce smoking-related harm while safeguarding young people from nicotine use. They argue that effective tobacco control policies should balance prevention efforts with measures that support adult smokers seeking alternatives to combustible cigarettes.
Medical professionals note that smoking remains a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses and several forms of cancer. While awareness campaigns and cessation programmes remain important, experts believe regulators should also consider the role of harm reduction within a comprehensive public health framework.
“Pakistan stands at a critical juncture. By adopting proportionate regulation that protects youth while enabling harm reduction for adults, the country can make meaningful progress in reducing smoking-related disease,” said Dr. Prof. Khalid Iqbal Bhatti, Cardiologist.
According to public health experts, regulatory frameworks are most effective when they are guided by scientific evidence and reflect the varying risk profiles of different nicotine products. They maintain that policies designed to discourage youth uptake, while providing adult smokers with access to potentially less harmful alternatives, can support broader efforts to reduce the long-term health and economic burden associated with smoking.