July 2026 Newsletter

The July 2026 issue emphasizes that Pakistan needs accessible and effective smoking cessation services as a central part of tobacco control. Although the country has introduced health warnings, tobacco taxes, and restrictions on cigarette sales, the newsletter says cessation support remains inadequate and fewer than three percent of smokers successfully quit each year.

The issue also presents the experience of Zahid Malik, who successfully quit smoking after serious heart problems and concern about his son copying his smoking behaviour. His story demonstrates the value of family support, counselling, and practical ways of managing nicotine cravings.

Another article explains the immediate and long-term benefits of quitting smoking, including improved cardiovascular and lung health, protection of family members from secondhand smoke, financial savings, and improved quality of life.

The newsletter discusses a UK survey on vaping and smoking, reporting that millions of former smokers have used vaping to help them quit. It also highlights continuing misconceptions about the risks of vaping compared with smoking.

The issue further covers concerns raised by the Pakistan Medical Association about lung cancer, delayed diagnosis, air pollution, tobacco use, shortages of oncology medicines, and the need for better cancer data and treatment services.

Finally, the newsletter highlights ARI and partner activities across Punjab and Sindh and calls for government officials, parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and other stakeholders to work together to help adult smokers quit and protect young people from tobacco use.

• The main story calls for a nationwide smoking cessation strategy in Pakistan.
• Only around 25 percent of smokers make a quit attempt each year, while fewer than three percent successfully quit.
• The newsletter recommends cessation clinics, trained healthcare professionals, counselling, nicotine replacement therapies, and cessation medicines.
• Zahid Malik’s story shows how medical problems, family concerns, counselling, and support can motivate a smoker to quit.
• Quitting smoking can improve health, protect families from secondhand smoke, save money, and improve quality of life.
• An ASH Great Britain survey reports that 4.8 million Britons have used vapes to quit smoking and that daily smoking has fallen to 6.6 percent.
• The Pakistan Medical Association has called for urgent action on lung cancer, better cancer data, stronger tobacco control, and improved access to treatment.
• ARI and its partners conducted 13 smoking-related awareness and community activities in Punjab and Sindh during July.
• The community sessions covered tobacco harm reduction, nicotine replacement therapies, medication, counselling, peer pressure, and nicotine withdrawal.
• ARI called for collective action by parents, educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community leaders to protect young people from tobacco use.

The main story focuses on the need to make smoking cessation services a central part of tobacco control in Pakistan. It explains that although smoking causes serious disease and preventable deaths, access to effective quitting support remains very limited. Only around 25 percent of smokers make a quit attempt each year, while fewer than three percent successfully quit.

The article calls for a nationwide cessation strategy, including smoking cessation clinics in public hospitals, trained healthcare professionals, counselling during routine health check-ups, and affordable or free nicotine replacement therapies and cessation medicines. It also stresses that smokers should be included in policy discussions so their needs and experiences can help shape effective quitting services.