Hindrance in smoke-free future

Islamabad: Anti-tobacco organisations (ATOs) in Pakistan strongly oppose harm reduction products, equating them with smoking and framing them as equally harmful. While these campaigns may appear to prioritise public health, they obstruct the adoption of scientifically supported Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing smoking-related harm globally.

Such organisations frequently organise seminars and symposiums misinforming the public, government officials, civil society, and healthcare professionals to push for strict restrictions on harm reduction products.

These initiatives ignore scientific evidence showing that alternatives like oral nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products, and vapes expose users to significantly fewer harmful chemicals than smoking. By perpetuating such misconceptions, these campaigns create confusion among smokers and policymakers, hindering informed choices and delaying progress toward effective tobacco control.

According to experts, global case studies provide a compelling contrast to this narrative. Sweden, for example, has achieved the milestone of becoming the first smoke-free country, primarily due to the widespread adoption of snus and oral nicotine pouches. Similarly, Japan’s embrace of heated tobacco products has led to a substantial reduction in smoking rates, demonstrating their role in advancing tobacco harm reduction efforts.

Experts believe that by ignoring these evidences, ATOs not only misinform but also deny smokers access to alternatives that could improve their quality of life. For Pakistan to make meaningful progress in reducing smoking-related harm, it must adopt a more balanced approach that incorporates strategies rooted in harm reduction, experts added.