WHO sounds alarm on youth vaping surge in Pakistan

The World Health Organization has warned that the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is rising among young people in Pakistan even as global smoking rates fall to multi-decade lows. In its latest assessment, WHO said Pakistan is off-track to meet the global target of a 30% reduction in tobacco use by 2025, despite a long-term decline in cigarette consumption worldwide.

The report notes that global tobacco use fell from 33% in 2000 to 19.5% in 2024 and is projected to dip to 19.2% by 2025. Pakistan, however, continues to face high adult usage—around 30 million tobacco users—and an estimated 160,000 tobacco-related deaths each year. WHO also flagged the widespread use of smokeless products such as gutka, naswar and paan, which contribute to oral and throat cancers.

Public health specialists cited regulatory gaps enabling aggressive marketing of nicotine devices, including kid-friendly flavours and influencer promotion. Recent surveys suggest nearly one in ten Pakistanis aged 13–15 has used a tobacco or vaping product, with experimentation higher among college students. Officials warned that early nicotine exposure heightens the risk of lifelong dependence and lung injury.

Experts urged Pakistan to tighten controls by taxing e-cigarettes, restricting advertising, mandating plain packaging and introducing national standards for sales. They also called for better enforcement of smoke-free laws and stronger anti-tobacco education campaigns. Environmental harms—from deforestation linked to tobacco cultivation to second-hand smoke—were cited as additional reasons for urgent action.