June 2025 Newsletter

The June 2025 issue focuses on protecting students and young people from tobacco use. The lead story reports that ARI and its partner organizations held seminars at educational institutions across Sindh. These seminars were organized with partners in Karachi East, Karachi South, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Sukkur, and Khairpur.

The seminars were held at institutions including Federal Urdu University, Edhi Institute of Science and Technology, National Incubation Center, Sakki Institute, and The Concept Institute. More than 250 students participated. Speakers discussed the health risks of tobacco, the benefits of quitting, and cessation services that can help people stop smoking.

The newsletter explains that cigarette smoke contains thousands of harmful chemicals and can cause fatal diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Speakers also called for tobacco harm reduction to be included in national tobacco control efforts and urged the government to make smoking cessation services available.

The issue also includes personal stories of smokers and tobacco users. Tariq, a property dealer, wants to quit smoking but does not know where to get help. Zeenat started smoking to manage stress and now wants information about cessation services. Muskan, a transgender tailor, reduced her smoking and now wants to quit after attending an awareness session. Hameed shared how peer pressure led him to use gutka.

Another article explains the need to protect young people from smoking. It highlights peer pressure, easy access to cigarettes, weak enforcement of laws near schools, and the need for tobacco education in school curricula. It also calls for strict no-smoking policies in schools, universities, homes, and public spaces.

The newsletter also reports that France has banned smoking on beaches, in parks, public gardens, bus shelters, and near places used by children. The final articles discuss Global Action’s commitment to ending smoking and Sweden’s example, where vaping, snus, and nicotine pouches have helped reduce smoking rates.

The main story highlights ARI and its partner organizations holding tobacco awareness seminars at educational institutions across Sindh. More than 250 students took part in these sessions. The seminars focused on the dangers of tobacco, benefits of quitting, smoking cessation services, and the need to protect students from smoking.