The success rate of quitting smoking in Pakistan is one the lowest in the world-2.6%
Pakistan lacks a national tobacco cessation strategy. The country also does not provide national tobacco cessation clinical guidelines.
People smoke for nicotine but they die from the tar.
Michael Russell

TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

Funding is provided under the Programme as an educational grant to the scholar from KAC (Knowledge Action Change)

The concept of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) is a new one in Pakistan. It is being confronted by tobacco control advocates with negative approach of spreading false effects of using harm reduction products. They feel challenged by THR initiative. The result is that THR movement is still in its infancy whereas the stakeholders including THR products’ users and sellers are keeping a low profile. There is a need to promote safer alternate for cessation and quitting smoking.

The objective of educational grant is mapping of prevailing tobacco control situation in Pakistan, analyzing scope of promoting THR products as well as understanding social dynamics with respect to the tobacco use in Pakistan.

About Research

MAPPING OF HARM REDUCTION IN PAKISTAN

The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is a nascent phenomenon in Pakistan and seems to be hiding in plain sight. The people and business operators of harm reduction products (HRPs) are keeping a low key to avoid regulations and/or policies that could affect their business concerns. There are no clear
or defined regulations for the use of HRPs including imports, manufacturing or product contents. However, the e-cigarettes and other HRPs are legally imported as consumer goods, with tax duties imposed on them. Though e-cigarettes are imported as consumer products and the e-liquids as essential oil, the budget 2017-18 speech of the finance minister termed e-cigarettes in Pakistan as “not properly classified and subject to only 3%” customs duty. He added that “keeping in view the harmful effect on health, it is proposed
that electric cigarettes may be properly classified with 20% customs duty.”