October 2025 Newsletter

The October 2025 issue focuses on quitting smoking as a path to better health and freedom. The lead article by Junaid Ali Khan explains that smoking remains a major public-health challenge in Pakistan, with millions of tobacco users and serious health risks such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic lung disease, and pregnancy complications.

The article says Pakistan lacks structured smoking cessation support. It explains that many tobacco users are left to quit without proper guidance because the country does not have enough national cessation clinics, subsidized therapies, or trained health professionals. The article encourages smokers to reflect on why they want to quit, set a quit date, and seek professional help.

The newsletter also explains practical quitting steps. Smokers are advised to visit a doctor or chest specialist, ask about nicotine replacement therapy, medicines such as bupropion or varenicline, and behavioural counselling. It also mentions hospital-based services, support groups, online platforms, and WhatsApp groups that can provide encouragement and guidance.

The issue also includes personal stories. Ibrahim, a daily-wage labourer, reduced his cigarette use from 40 cigarettes a day to only two or three after family pressure and an awareness session. Meher, a social worker, shared her experience of occasional smoking linked with stress, travel, and social settings.

Another article reports a Senate bill seeking to ban the sale of e-cigarettes, vapes, and e-hookahs to people under 18. The proposed law also covers packaging, warning labels, product quality standards, advertising restrictions, and a ban on selling such products near educational institutions.

The newsletter also discusses harm reduction as an important public-health pillar. It highlights a scientific summit in Athens where experts said harm reduction should become part of mainstream public-health policy and that nicotine is not the main cause of smoking-related disease; the main harm comes from burning tobacco.

The issue also reports that, for the first time, more adults in Great Britain are using vapes than smoking cigarettes. It explains that many adults who vape are former smokers and that vaping has helped many people move away from combustible cigarettes. The final article reports ARI’s seminars and community sessions in Sindh and Punjab to raise awareness, protect youth, and help adults quit smoking.

• The main story gives practical steps for quitting smoking and building a smoke-free life.
• Pakistan lacks structured cessation support, trained professionals, and affordable quitting therapies.
• Smokers are advised to set a quit date, seek medical help, prepare for withdrawal, avoid triggers, and build support.
• Relapse is described as feedback, not failure, and smokers are encouraged to try again.
• Ibrahim reduced his smoking from 40 cigarettes a day to only two or three.
• Meher’s story shows how occasional smoking can be linked with stress, travel, and social settings.
• A Senate bill seeks to ban sale of vapes and e-cigarettes to people under 18.
• The newsletter says harm reduction should become a central public-health strategy.
• Vaping has overtaken smoking among adults in Great Britain.
• ARI held seminars and community sessions in Sindh and Punjab to protect youth and help adults quit.

The main story explains that quitting smoking is possible and can change a person’s health, family life, and financial situation. It advises smokers to decide why they want to quit, set a quit date, seek medical help, prepare for withdrawal symptoms, avoid triggers, build family and friend support, celebrate progress, and restart if they relapse.