The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), together with the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology & Military Hospital (AFIC-MH), held an awareness event at AFIC-MH Rawalpindi on World No Tobacco Day 2026 to address nicotine addiction and rising tobacco harms among youth, health professionals and civil society.
The event followed this year’s theme, “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” and brought attention to how the tobacco and nicotine industries are attracting young people with new products and marketing tactics that lead to lifelong addiction.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nadir Khan warned that tobacco consumption remains a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases in Pakistan and urged young people to reject tobacco and nicotine products and adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce heart disease and premature deaths.
Maj. Gen. (R) Masud-ur-Rehman Kiani, President of PANAH, said tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death and stressed that both smoking and smokeless tobacco greatly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic respiratory illness. He called on policymakers to strengthen tobacco control to protect future generations from nicotine addiction.
Sana Ullah Ghumman, General Secretary of PANAH, highlighted the heavy health and economic burden of tobacco-related diseases in Pakistan and warned about emerging nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches that are marketed as modern alternatives despite significant addiction risks. He echoed WHO concerns over industry tactics targeting youth.
Col. Dr. Abdul Rehman Jokhio and Dr. Shazia Fatima emphasized that nicotine harms nearly every organ and raises the risk of cancers, heart attacks, lung diseases, diabetes and adverse pregnancy outcomes, stressing the need for prevention, public awareness and accessible cessation support services.
Dr. Abdul Qayyum Awan, Senior Vice President of PANAH, urged stronger implementation of tobacco control laws, higher taxes across all tobacco and nicotine products, comprehensive bans on advertising and promotion, enforcement of smoke-free public spaces and targeted awareness campaigns in schools and universities to curb nicotine addiction among youth.
Event participants agreed that coordinated action by health professionals, civil society and policymakers is essential to reduce the health and economic toll of tobacco and nicotine in Pakistan and to shield young people from industry strategies that normalize addiction.
