Smoking cessation services are a human right

Dear editor,

Pakistan today faces an alarming tobacco burden, with millions of adult smokers struggling to quit despite repeated attempts. While awareness campaigns have highlighted the dangers of smoking, the absence of effective and affordable cessation services leaves these individuals without the support they desperately need.

If Pakistan is to become a smoke free nation, it must recognize cessation services as a cornerstone of tobacco control, and as a human right. Adult smokers who cannot quit on their own require structured assistance — counseling, nicotine replacement therapies, and harm reduction strategies — to break free from addiction. Without such services, the cycle of dependence continues, adding to the country’s already overwhelming health burden.

Developed nations have demonstrated that accessible cessation programs dramatically reduce smoking prevalence. Pakistan must follow suit by integrating cessation services into its national tobacco control policy and ensuring their availability at district and community levels. This is not merely a health intervention; it is a moral responsibility to protect lives and secure a healthier future for our youth.

By investing in cessation services, Pakistan will take a decisive step toward ending combustible smoking and fulfilling its commitment to public health.