ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani senator has introduced a bill in the upper house of the country’s Parliament seeking to ban the sale, advertising, and packaging of e-cigarettes, vapes, and e-hookahs for anyone under 18.
The bill, tabled by Senator Sarmad Ali in the Senate, defines electronic nicotine products as battery-operated devices that produce nicotine vapor for inhalation.
The proposed legislation mandates that these products be sold only in tamper-proof, child-resistant packaging with clear labelling. Packets must list all ingredients and include warnings stating the product is addictive and unsuitable for minors.
The bill also requires all such products to meet standards set by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), banning their import, manufacture, or sale without proper certification.
Advertising of electronic nicotine products will be strictly prohibited across billboards, print, and electronic media.
Additionally, sales of these products will be banned within 50 meters of schools and other educational institutions.
Violators will face fines starting at Rs 50,000, with repeat offenses attracting penalties up to Rs 100,000.
The bill aims to curb rising youth exposure to nicotine through modern vaping devices, promoting healthier choices among Pakistan’s younger generation.
