PANAH organize symposium on World No Tobacco Day 2026 at AFIC-MH Rawalpindi
Public Health Leaders Call for Comprehensive Ban on Tobacco Advertising and Promotion
PANAH Urges Policymakers to Protect Future Generations from Tobacco and Nicotine Harm
Islamabad – 4 June 2026 (Adnan Hameed) : Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), in collaboration with Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology & Military Hospital (AFIC-MH), organized a World No Tobacco Day 2026 awareness event at AFIC-MH Rawalpindi. The event was attended by youth students, health professionals, civil society representatives, and public health advocates.
This year’s World No Tobacco Day theme, “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” highlights how tobacco and nicotine industries continue to attract young people through new products and marketing tactics while exposing them to lifelong addiction and serious diseases.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nadir Khan, stressed that tobacco consumption is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, which are already responsible for a large proportion of deaths in Pakistan. He urged young people to reject tobacco and nicotine products and adopt healthy lifestyles.
Addressing the gathering, President PANAH, Maj. Gen. (R) Masud-ur-Rehman Kiani, said that tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide and in Pakistan, says press note. He emphasized that smoking and smokeless tobacco significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and premature death. He called upon policymakers to strengthen tobacco control measures and protect future generations from nicotine addiction.
General Secretary PANAH, Sana Ullah Ghumman, highlighted that Pakistan faces an alarming burden of tobacco-related diseases. He noted that tobacco use not only damages health but also imposes a heavy economic burden through healthcare costs and productivity losses. He warned that emerging nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, are being promoted as modern alternatives despite carrying significant addiction risks. WHO has warned that tobacco and nicotine industries continue to design and market products that attract young people and create lifelong addiction.
Col. Dr. Abdul Rehman Jokhio and Dr. Shazia Fatima emphasized that nicotine addiction affects nearly every organ of the body and increases the risk of cancers, heart attacks, lung diseases, diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. They stressed the importance of prevention, public awareness, and cessation support services.
Dr. Abdul Qayyum Awan, Senior Vice President PANAH emphasized for stronger implementation of tobacco control laws, increased taxation on all tobacco and nicotine products, comprehensive bans on advertising and promotion, smoke-free public spaces, and enhanced awareness campaigns in educational institutions.
