Read official press releases from Alternative Research Initiative on tobacco harm reduction, smoking cessation services, public health policy, and smoke-free Pakistan initiatives.
ISLAMABAD, November 03, 2026: The Alternative Research Initiative (ARI) and its partners have renewed call to ensure adult smokers have access to affordable, effective cessation services, while integrating tobacco harm reduction (THR) into Pakistan’s broader tobacco control efforts.
"These two measures can help Pakistan reduce smoking prevalence," said Arshad Ali Syed, head of ARI. “Adult smokers understand harms of combustible smoking and want to quit, but they lack support in making a successful quit attempt,” he added.
According to the GATS 2024, Pakistan reduced tobacco consumption by 15.7% between 2014 and 2024 thanks to measures implemented to fulfill its international obligations under the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). However, it adds that despite progress, tobacco products are still consumed by 16.1% of the Pakistani population aged 15 and above – in other words 22.7 million use tobacco, including 14 million smokers.
Arshad added there is a need to diversify current tobacco control efforts to include innovative and science-backed solutions. “The emerging global evidence points towards the effectiveness of tobacco harm reduction.”
He said in 2024, around 94.328 billion cigarettes were produced in Pakistan. In other words, on average 6,738 cigarette sticks for every smoker or 337 packets annually. “This clearly shows that the source of disease burden is still combustible smoking and the adult smokers urgently need help to give up this habit.”
Reduced-risk products can serve as a viable alternative for smokers who are unwilling or unable to quit traditional combustible cigarettes. While not risk-free, reduced-risk products have shown potential in minimizing harm compared to combustible smoking. Introducing these alternatives as part of a comprehensive smoking reduction strategy could be a significant change for Pakistan.
"This approach should be backed by the provision of effective, accessible, and affordable smoking cessation services," Arshad said. Scaling up cessation support will empower millions of smokers to make healthier choices.
Pakistan Alliance for Nicotine and Tobacco Harm Reduction promotes innovative solutions for smoking cessation and harm reduction.
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