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LAHORE: The Initiative on Risk-reduction & Dependable Alternatives (IRADA) hosted its second round table discussion today in Lahore, bringing together over 30 participants, including public health officials and experts, NGOs, medical associations, media and local stakeholders. In a collective effort to reduce the health impact associated with cigarette smoking in Pakistan, the participants underscored the urgent need for the country to adopt effective tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategies and formulate policies accordingly, which could potentially save the lives of over 1.2 million people.
During the event, renowned researcher and policy advisor, Dr Muhammad Rizwan Junaid, presented insights on THR at the “Break Thru Science” round table discussion in Lahore. He stressed the significance of THR products such as modern oral nicotine pouches, which pose significantly fewer health risks as compared to traditional cigarettes.
Global health leaders, aiming for a ‘smoke free’ future by 2040, have targeted a smoking rate of 5% or less in adult populations. Unfortunately, many countries, including Pakistan, are still far from this goal. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) treaty was established 18 years ago, global tobacco demand has declined slowly, and in some low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), like Pakistan, it has barely decreased.
Highlighting the report by Smoke Free Sweden, Dr Junaid shared powerful data: in Kazakhstan, the potential lives saved by THR could reach 165,000, reducing smoking-related deaths from 22,000 in 2020 to under 9,000 by 2060. Similarly, in Pakistan, adopting THR could save approximately 1.2 million lives, cutting smoking-related deaths from 163,000 in 2020 to less than 66,000 by 2060.
The event further emphasized the lessons learned from countries like Sweden and New Zealand, where THR products, including nicotine pouches and snus, have led to significantly lower smoking rates. Sweden, having adopted these THR strategies, is set to become the first country to achieve smoke-free status (less than 5% of smokers), far outperforming the EU average of 18%.
THR strategies offer a promising alternative for smokers who seek to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals. They provide less harmful options that can prevent millions of deaths from tobacco-related diseases. Adopting THR in Pakistan could align with the broader public health goals, significantly reducing the burden of tobacco-related illnesses.
“With the right policies in place, we have the potential to turn the tide on smoking-related deaths in Pakistan. The evidence is clear: harm reduction can save lives, and the time to act is now,” said Dr Junaid. “We need to ensure that smokers have access to safer alternatives that are proven globally to reduce health risks, and that regulations support these products rather than hinder them.”
Health experts at the round table urged the government to integrate tobacco harm reduction strategies into the national tobacco control framework. Regulations for new nicotine products should be proportionate to their health risks, maximizing their benefits and reducing overall harm.
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