Islamabad, Sept 14, 2026: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) organised a session with youth in Islamabad where youth ambassadors called for increasing Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) on cigarette packs from the current 60 per cent to 85 per cent.
The youth ambassadors described GHWs as one of the most effective and cost-effective measures to reduce tobacco use among children and youth. They said stronger health warnings were needed to better inform and protect children and young people from initiating tobacco use.
The session also provided an opportunity for young participants to raise their voices through the “Youth Voices for a Tobacco-Free Future” petition. The participants signed the petition in support of stronger TAPS regulations and increasing GHW coverage from 60 per cent to 85 per cent, highlighting the need for greater protection of children and youth from tobacco-related harm.
Youth Ambassador Tehreem Akhtar Qureshi said graphic health warnings had become one of the world’s most effective public health measures because they replaced attractive tobacco packaging with the reality of smoking-related diseases.
“Pakistan deserves recognition for the progress it has made in tobacco control. However, as a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), Pakistan committed to implementing Graphic Health Warnings covering 85% of cigarette packaging under Article 11,” she said.
She added that despite this commitment, progress had been slow. “Tobacco remains responsible for more than 192,000 preventable deaths every year, while over 31 million adults continue to use tobacco products. These figures highlight that there is still an opportunity to strengthen tobacco control measures,” she said.
Youth Ambassador Shafia Asad said expanding graphic health warnings to 85 per cent could play a vital role in protecting millions of people, particularly children and youth, from the dangers of tobacco addiction.
She said tobacco continued to place an enormous burden on Pakistan’s health system. Every year, thousands of people lose their lives to diseases caused by tobacco use, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory illnesses and other preventable conditions, she added.
She said these deaths were not only tragic for families but also placed significant pressure on the country’s healthcare resources and economy.
Youth advocate Ayan Akhtar said tobacco products should never look attractive. “Cigarette packs should clearly show the devastating health consequences of smoking. Graphic Health Warnings are not just pictures, they are a public health intervention that informs, discourages and saves lives,” he said.
SPARC Programme Manager Dr Khalil Ahmad said Pakistan had made important progress in implementing the WHO’s MPOWER measures, including tobacco taxation, advertising restrictions and pictorial health warnings.
However, he said further progress was needed to fully implement all six MPOWER measures. He said introducing larger and regularly rotating graphic health warnings covering 85 per cent of tobacco packaging would strengthen public awareness, encourage tobacco users to quit, discourage children and youth from initiating tobacco use, and reduce the appeal of tobacco products.
Dr Ahmad said countries such as Brazil, Turkey, Canada, Thailand and Australia had successfully implemented larger and regularly rotating graphic health warnings as part of comprehensive tobacco control strategies, demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing tobacco use.
