November 2022 Newsletter

This newsletter begins with the launch of ARI’s knowledge hub on ending combustible smoking. The hub is described as Pakistan’s first effort to collect and present knowledge on tobacco use, tobacco harm reduction products, and policy issues in Pakistan and the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It is intended to provide one-window access to research, data, information, ideas, and stories for policymakers, health professionals, civil society, ARI partners, and the government.

The newsletter explains that the knowledge hub can support evidence-based action by bringing together local and international research. It also aims to generate new research on tobacco use, combustible smoking, less harmful alternatives, and policymaking for ending smoking. The hub is presented as a platform that can help create better legal, policy, and administrative decisions.

The issue also discusses the rise of nicotine pouches in Pakistan. One article explains that harmful oral tobacco products such as paan, gutka, and naswar are widely used in South Asia and are linked with serious disease. Nicotine pouches are presented as a lower-risk modern oral nicotine option that may help reduce harm, but the newsletter also stresses the need for sensible regulation.

The newsletter also covers the debate on proposed regulation of heated tobacco products in Pakistan. Some groups opposed them because of youth and public-health concerns, while ARI called for a research-based approach, independent data, open discussion, and regulation according to risk. Another article reports on a consultation in Mardan, where speakers called for effective and affordable smoking cessation services and inclusion of tobacco harm reduction in national tobacco-control policy. The final article discusses Sweden’s success with snus, where smoking rates have fallen close to smoke-free levels.

• ARI launched Pakistan’s first knowledge hub on ending combustible smoking.
• The hub collects information on tobacco use, tobacco-control efforts, and tobacco harm reduction products.
• It covers Pakistan and the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
• The hub aims to support policymakers, government, health professionals, civil society, and ARI partners.
• It will help generate and share research on ending smoking.
• The newsletter discusses nicotine pouches as a possible lower-risk option compared with harmful oral tobacco.
• Paan, gutka, and naswar remain serious public-health concerns in South Asia.
• Nicotine pouches are being used in Pakistan in a regulatory vacuum.
• The newsletter calls for sensible regulation of tobacco harm reduction products.
• The issue covers debate on proposed regularisation of heated tobacco products in Pakistan.
• ARI called for a research-based approach and open dialogue before making laws.
• Speakers at a Mardan consultation called for effective and affordable smoking cessation services.
• Pakistan has nearly 29 million tobacco users, with some estimates reaching 31 million.
• Less than 3% of smokers successfully quit smoking in a year in Pakistan.
• Sweden’s snus experience is presented as an example of reducing smoking through lower-risk alternatives.