Alarming increase in smoking and vaping in Pakistan

WEB DESK: An International Research Institute has recently disclosed alarming statistics regarding tobacco usage in Pakistan.

According to their report, nearly 2.5 million individuals in the country are smokers, while the number of snuff users exceeds 1.5 million.

A comprehensive study on tobacco control in Pakistan, conducted by the international organisation, Tobacco Harm Reduction, indicates that adopting more effective tobacco control measures could potentially save 1.2 million lives in the nation.

Global research data reveals that Pakistan has a total of 23.9 million adult smokers. Additionally, over 6 percent of the population engages in vaping and e-cigarettes, while snuff usage extends to 1.59 million people.

It’s noteworthy that all public places in the country have been designated as smoke-free zones.

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Dr Derek Yach, in his compiled report, highlights that products designed to mitigate the harm caused by tobacco are currently being utilised by a staggering 150 million people globally.

Furthermore, the report highlights a significant reduction in smoking rates in the UK, where the implementation of less harmful tobacco products has contributed to a decline from 20 per cent to 12 per cent.

This data underscores the potential positive impact of similar strategies in Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to combat tobacco-related health issues.