May 2022 Newsletter

This newsletter reports on the World No Tobacco Day 2022 campaign led by Alternative Research Initiative and its member organizations. The campaign called on the government to provide affordable smoking cessation services and include tobacco harm reduction in national tobacco-control policy. The newsletter notes that Pakistan has around 25 to 30 million tobacco users, while less than 3% of smokers successfully quit in a year.

ARI and its member organizations carried out activities in more than 31 districts across Pakistan. These included banners, posters, seminars, walks, orientation sessions, and meetings. More than 200 banners were displayed in prominent places with messages about affordable quitting support, listening to smokers, and making tobacco harm reduction part of national policy.

The newsletter explains that Pakistan’s tobacco-control efforts need fresh direction. ARI’s project director, Arshad Ali Syed, said tobacco harm reduction can help Pakistan reduce smoking and eventually end combustible smoking. The issue also stresses that smokers need real help and that their views should be included when policies are made.

The newsletter also includes several wider public-health discussions. One article argues that tobacco harm reduction matters and that the United Kingdom’s success in reducing smoking should be understood together with safer nicotine alternatives. Another article reports that the FDA was accused at an e-cigarette summit of poor communication about the difference in risk between cigarettes and lower-risk nicotine products. The issue also discusses the need for a stronger global tobacco-control strategy, computerized registration of tobacco sellers in Islamabad, and comments from ARI members calling for continuous engagement with smokers beyond World No Tobacco Day.

• The newsletter focuses on World No Tobacco Day 2022 activities by ARI and its member organizations.
• ARI called for affordable smoking cessation services in Pakistan.
• The campaign asked the government to include tobacco harm reduction in national tobacco-control policy.
• Pakistan has around 25 to 30 million tobacco users.
• Less than 3% of smokers successfully quit smoking in a year.
• ARI and its members conducted activities in more than 31 districts across Pakistan.
• More than 200 banners were displayed with messages about quitting support and tobacco harm reduction.
• Member organizations held seminars, walks, meetings, and awareness sessions.
• Smokers’ views should be heard when tobacco-control policies are made.
• Tobacco harm reduction can support efforts to end combustible smoking.
• The newsletter explains that tobacco harm reduction matters for reducing smoking-related disease.
• The FDA was accused of poor communication about the relative risks of nicotine products.
• The issue calls for better global tobacco-control strategies that include harm reduction.
• Computerized registration of tobacco sellers started in Islamabad.
• ARI members called for stronger engagement with smokers beyond World No Tobacco Day.