On World No Tobacco Day 2026 the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) urged immediate measures to strengthen Tobacco Control in Pakistan, stressing that children and young people face growing risk from flavored and emerging nicotine products.
Dr Khalil Ahmad Dogar Programme Manager at SPARC said this year’s theme Unmasking the Appeal — Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction exposes the tobacco industrys tactics, including flavored products deceptive marketing attractive packaging and active promotion of e-cigarettes heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.
According to the World Health Organization tobacco use kills more than 8 million people worldwide every year including roughly 1.3 million non smokers who die from exposure to secondhand smoke. In Pakistan tobacco use is responsible for more than 192,000 deaths annually roughly 526 deaths each day and about 1,200 children aged six to 15 start smoking every day, creating a new generation vulnerable to lifelong nicotine addiction.
SPARC highlighted the economic burden alongside the health crisis noting estimated annual losses of Rs 1,835 billion due to healthcare costs lost productivity and premature deaths. These losses exceed revenue from tobacco taxes and divert scarce resources away from national development priorities.
Pakistan has ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and taken steps under MPOWER, including smoke-free laws restrictions on advertising bans on sales to minors pictorial health warnings and tax increases. However Dr Khalil said enforcement gaps remain and the regulatory framework has not kept pace with emerging nicotine products.
He urged policymakers to raise tobacco taxes to reduce affordability expand graphic health warnings in line with best international practice ensure effective enforcement of bans on Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorship and establish comprehensive regulation for all nicotine products. He called on government institutions parliamentarians healthcare professionals educators civil society parents and the media to support sustained Tobacco Control action to protect future generations.
Protecting children from nicotine addiction is not only a public health responsibility but an investment in Pakistans future, SPARC said, adding that stronger policy measures and enforcement can curb industry tactics and reduce tobacco related harm across the country.
