Letters to Editor

Dear Editor,

According to the latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2024, Pakistan still has more than 22 million tobacco users, with 14 million cigarette smokers. On the other hand, less than 3% of adult smokers successfully quit smoking.

Dear Editor,

Over the last ten years, Pakistan has witnessed the emergence of vaping devices and nicotine pouches. These are called alternative tobacco products or part of tobacco harm reduction strategy aimed at reducing the health risks associated with tobacco use without necessarily requiring complete abstinence.

Dear Editor,

Underage smoking in Pakistan, especially in rural areas, is a problem which has been accepted as usual part of day to day life. According to one of the statistics, out of every five adult smokers, two started smoking before they were ten years old.

Dear Editor,

The use of nicotine pouches and vaping devices among the teenagers across Pakistan is increasing rapidly. Both the nicotine pouches and vaping devices are not for people under 18 years of age. However, we all know that implementation of regulations in Pakistan mostly remains weak, and sometimes completely missing.

Dear editor

The role of doctors is essential to convincing smokers to quit. However, this is easier said than done. Doctors, globally and especially in Pakistan, seem to be least concerned with their smoker patients.

Dear editor,

The developed countries are moving towards smokefree futures, that is, no more smoke of cigarettes. That is something remarkable. In the 20th century, this was almost unthinkable because we associated glamour with the acting of smoking. But no more.