The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) held an interactive discussion with journalists on November 25, 2025 to highlight the growing tobacco threats and the rise of new nicotine products targeting Pakistani youth. The session focused on strengthening media engagement to counter misinformation and increase public awareness about the urgent need to protect children from addictive products.
Dr. Khalil Ahmad Dogar, Program Manager at SPARC, presented alarming national figures, noting that thousands of Pakistanis still die each year from tobacco use and that smoking prevalence remains high across the country. He warned that nearly 1,200 children in Pakistan start smoking every day, a statistic that underscores the severity of the crisis and the aggressive marketing tactics used to exploit young people.
Dr. Dogar commended Pakistan’s commitment to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and acknowledged progress on key measures, while stressing that full implementation of FCTC’s MPOWER components requires adopting international best practices, expanding public awareness campaigns, and ensuring coordinated action by government agencies, civil society and the media. He argued that a unified approach is essential to curb tobacco threats at scale.
Attention was drawn to emerging nicotine and tobacco products that are frequently promoted as less harmful alternatives. Dr. Dogar emphasized that such claims are misleading and are often designed to create confusion among young consumers. He called for stronger regulation, clear evidence based communication and collaborative efforts to counter industry misinformation and protect adolescents from new avenues of addiction.
Journalists were urged to continue exposing deceptive tactics used by the tobacco industry and to use their reporting to advocate for stronger safeguards that protect the health and future of Pakistan’s young generations. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to responsible reporting and continuous capacity building to stay abreast of evolving nicotine trends and regulatory frameworks. The meeting closed with a shared pledge to deepen youth engagement, promote evidence based awareness initiatives and amplify media advocacy in support of a tobacco free future for Pakistan’s children.
