Islamabad, September 14, 2026: Youth ambassadors at a session organised by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) urged authorities to increase Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) on cigarette packs from the existing 60 per cent to 85 per cent, terming the measure vital to protect children and young people from tobacco use.
The participants said pictorial warnings on tobacco products were among the most effective and cost-efficient public health measures to reduce tobacco consumption among children and youth. They maintained that stronger warnings would better inform young people about the harms of tobacco and help prevent them from initiating its use.
The session also enabled young participants to support the “Youth Voices for a Tobacco-Free Future” petition. They signed the petition in favour of stricter TAPS regulations and the proposed increase in GHW coverage from 60 per cent to 85 per cent, stressing the need for greater safeguards against tobacco-related harm.
Youth Ambassador Tehreem Akhtar Qureshi said Graphic Health Warnings had become one of the world’s most effective public health interventions as they replaced attractive tobacco packaging with the reality of smoking-related diseases.
She said Pakistan deserved recognition for progress in tobacco control, but as a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the country had committed under Article 11 to implementing Graphic Health Warnings covering 85 per cent of cigarette packaging.
“Despite this commitment, progress has been slow. Tobacco remains responsible for more than 192,000 preventable deaths every year, while over 31 million adults continue to use tobacco products,” she said, adding that these figures showed the need to further strengthen tobacco control measures.
Youth Ambassador Shafia Asad said expanding Graphic Health Warnings to 85 per cent could play an important role in protecting millions of people, particularly children and youth, from the dangers of tobacco addiction.
She said tobacco continued to place a heavy burden on Pakistan’s health system. Every year, thousands of people lose their lives to diseases caused by tobacco use, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory illnesses and other preventable conditions, she added. These deaths, she said, were not only tragic for families but also increased pressure on the country’s healthcare resources and economy.
Youth advocate Ayan Akhtar said tobacco products should never appear attractive. “Cigarette packs should clearly show the devastating health consequences of smoking. Graphic Health Warnings are not just pictures, they are a public health intervention that informs, discourages and saves lives,” he said.
SPARC Programme Manager Dr Khalil Ahmad said Pakistan had made important progress in implementing the WHO’s MPOWER measures, including tobacco taxation, advertising restrictions and pictorial health warnings. However, he said further steps were required to fully implement all six MPOWER measures.
He said larger and regularly rotating Graphic Health Warnings covering 85 per cent of tobacco packaging would strengthen public awareness, encourage tobacco users to quit, discourage children and youth from starting tobacco use and reduce the appeal of tobacco products.
Dr Ahmad said countries including Brazil, Turkey, Canada, Thailand and Australia had successfully introduced larger and regularly rotating Graphic Health Warnings as part of comprehensive tobacco control strategies, demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing tobacco use.
