Pakistan, like many countries, has struggled with high smoking rates despite years of anti-smoking campaigns and strict tobacco control measures. The global goal of achieving a smoke-free future by 2040, where less than 5% of adults smoke, remains distant.
In response to this challenge, several nations have adopted Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategies as an effective solution to reducing smoking rates. THR provides a practical option for smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit, offering them smoke-free alternatives like oral nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products, and vapes. These products help reduce exposure to harmful chemicals while assisting smokers in their transition away from smoking.
This approach was the focus of a recent seminar organized by the Institute for Research and Development Advocacy (IRADA). The seminar highlighted global success stories, with countries like Sweden and New Zealand demonstrating how THR strategies can significantly lower smoking rates. Sweden, for example, has achieved the lowest smoking rate in the European Union, thanks to the widespread use of oral nicotine pouches and snus. The country is now on track to become the world’s first smoke-free nation, with fewer than 5% of its population still smoking. Similarly, New Zealand has made significant progress by integrating harm reduction strategies with traditional tobacco controls, leading to a marked reduction in smoking prevalence.
At the seminar, researcher and policy adviser Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Junaid discussed how these success stories could serve as a model for Pakistan. “Global public health has set the target of a smoke-free future by 2040, but most countries, including Pakistan, are far from this goal,” Dr. Junaid explained. “Since the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was enforced almost two decades ago, the demand for tobacco has decreased too slowly, especially in lower- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. The adoption of Tobacco Harm Reduction strategies could offer a new way forward as millions of people continue to smoke, placing a significant burden on public health,” he added.