The Role of Anti-Tobacco Organizations in Pakistan’s Smoking Dilemma – Startup Pakistan

Pakistan’s smoking rate remains excessively high, and Anti-Tobacco Organizations (ATOs) have exacerbated the situation by advocating for strict policies against all nicotine products. This stance limits the adoption of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategies that could significantly reduce smoking-related harm. While many smokers wish to continue with the habit, ATOs stand in the way of viable solutions that could help them transition away from smoking.

ATOs conduct seminars and discussions featuring government officials and health professionals, during which they spread misinformation about THR products. They push for bans on THR options like vapes, oral nicotine pouches, and Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs), overshadowing the reduced risks these alternatives could provide. By treating all nicotine products as equally harmful, ATOs stifle critical conversations about less harmful alternatives that could genuinely assist smokers.

Countries like Sweden offer valuable lessons in addressing smoking. Sweden’s success with THR strategies, including the use of oral nicotine pouches and snus, has helped reduce its smoking rate to just 5.6%, the lowest in the world. This achievement came through a pragmatic approach that differentiated between smoking and harm-reducing alternatives. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, ATOs disregard scientific evidence that supports the lower risks associated with THR options.

Hence, incorporating harm reduction strategies into national tobacco control policies could create a more balanced framework for addressing smoking. The government should prioritize public education campaigns that highlight both the dangers of smoking and the reduced risks of harm reduction products, empowering individuals to make informed choices about their well-being. Additionally, increasing the accessibility of these products could encourage smokers to seek alternatives.

For the country to move forward, embracing a harm reduction strategy is essential. By promoting THR products, the government could ultimately address the smoking dilemma that continues to impact many lives.