ISLAMABAD: In a landmark recognition of public health achievement, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded Pakistan the prestigious ‘World No Tobacco Day 2026 Award’, not for eliminating smoking, but for proving that a developing nation can take on a deadly addiction and win.
Pakistan’s tobacco control measures reduced consumption by 15.7% over 10 years.
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2024 confirms the positive impact of Pakistan’s policies under @WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Together, we can save lives.#WorldNoTobaccoDay pic.twitter.com/u336XC5LHP— WHO Pakistan (@WHOPakistan) June 3, 2026
Between 2014 and 2024, Pakistan slashed tobacco consumption by 15.7%, saving countless lives and preventing billions in economic losses, according to new findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2024. The award was jointly given to the Tobacco Control Cell of Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and Dr. Waseem Iftikhar Janjua, Senior Researcher at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
Yet the battle is far from over. Tobacco products are still consumed by 16.1% of Pakistanis aged 15 and above, causing nearly 164,000 deaths and economic losses exceeding 1,800 billion Pakistani rupees (about US$6.6 billion) each year.
Discover how Pakistan has reduced tobacco consumption & saved lives over the last 10 years thanks to measures such as taxation under the @WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Together, we can protect our families & our children from tobacco. https://t.co/06wPs0hSoS pic.twitter.com/VfYN4rO4gZ— WHO Pakistan (@WHOPakistan) June 3, 2026
The WNTD Award is presented annually to individuals or organisations from each of the six WHO Regions in recognition of outstanding contributions to tobacco control. This year’s recognition comes as Pakistan implements aggressive measures under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Dramatic decline in secondhand smoke exposure
Among the most encouraging findings of GATS 2024 – led by the Government of Pakistan in partnership with WHO and the CDC Foundation – is a steep decline in exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke across all public and private spaces between 2014 and 2024:
- Homes: 3% → 28.8%
- Workplaces: 1% → 35.9%
- Government buildings: 6% → 40.7%
- Restaurants: 0% → 55.2%
- Public transportation: 2% → 45.4%
- Schools: 1% → 11.5%
The survey, which completed over 11,000 interviews with a 95.6% response rate, also reported a decrease in exposure to tobacco advertising in stores (20.4% to 17.8%) and overall tobacco promotions (38.6% to 30.5%).
Challenges remain
Despite the progress, female tobacco consumption increased slightly by 1.7%, with 5.9% of women aged 15 and above now using tobacco. Additionally, the percentage of smokers who attempted to quit in the past 12 months decreased marginally from 24.7% to 24.1%, and fewer received quitting advice from healthcare providers (51.8% to 49.9%).
Key measures behind Pakistan’s success
Since 2014, Pakistan has implemented several landmark tobacco control policies, including:
- A 208% increase in tobacco taxation during fiscal year 2022–2023
- Larger pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging
- A nationwide ban on the sale of loose cigarettes
- The National Tobacco Control Strategy 2022–2030
- Establishment of provincial Tobacco Control Cells and monitoring committees
Voices from the front line
Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Regulations, Services and Coordination, addressed the growing threat of new nicotine products: “The emergence of electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, heated tobacco products, and digital advertising platforms has transformed the tobacco epidemic into a more complex public health challenge. The aggressive targeting of youth through flavored products and social media demands urgent and coordinated policy action.”
.@WHO has recognized Pakistan’s Tobacco Control Cell and Dr Waseem Janjua with the World No Tobacco Day 2026 Award.
Congratulations & thank you for your outstanding work to protect and save lives.#TobaccoExposed#WorldNoTobaccoDay
To learn more:https://t.co/E2t8yWHQEN pic.twitter.com/BXhCtXscqq— WHO Pakistan (@WHOPakistan) June 3, 2026
He revealed that approximately 22.7 million adults currently use tobacco in Pakistan, with 163,600 deaths annually, equivalent to 448 deaths per day.
Dr. Luo Dapeng, WHO’s Representative in Pakistan, praised the country’s efforts: “The GATS 2024 results confirm that, together, we can protect and save lives thanks to international cooperation and the implementation of specific measures such as taxation and banning tobacco advertisements that are particularly targeting our children and teenagers.”
He added a stern warning: “The science is very clear: all tobacco products are killers. WHO will always stand with Pakistan to protect our children and our families from this public health threat.”
