PO: What is the impact of tobacco on health and on the economy of Pakistan?
Every year, close to 164 000 people die due to tobacco use in Pakistan.
This means 450 deaths per day, more than 3100 deaths per week and over 13 600 deaths per month.
In addition to the devastating loss of lives, the latest research indicates that the annual economic and health cost of tobacco in Pakistan amounts to around PKR 700 billion (around US$2.5 billion).
PO: Do the taxes paid by the tobacco industry compensate the economic loss?
No. The tobacco industry’s total tax contribution to Pakistan – around PKR 298 billion in 2024 – does not even amount to half of the economic losses triggered by tobacco consumption in the country.
PO: You mention that tobacco harms our health.
But, what is the specific negative impact of tobacco on our health?
Nicotine contained in tobacco is highly addictive and tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, over 20 different types or subtypes of cancer, and many other debilitating health conditions.
Tobacco kills up to half of its users who do not quit – but it is not only them.
Second-hand smoke also harms the health of our communities and our families.
This smoke fills restaurants, offices, homes, and other enclosed spaces when people smoke tobacco products.
There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.
Second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer, and kills around 1.3 million people who die prematurely every year.
PO: What is the exact composition of tobacco products?
Smoked tobacco products, including waterpipes, contain over 7000 chemicals, including at least 250 chemicals known to be toxic or to cause cancer.
PO: What are the immediate and long-term benefits of quitting tobacco?
There are many.
Let me just highlight a few ones.
•Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
•12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
•2-12 weeks, your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
•1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
•1 year, your risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker’s.
• 5 years, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
• 10 years, your risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker and your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases.
• 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker.
PO: What about heated tobacco products that claim to be less toxic?
Are there healthier tobacco products?
First of all, we need to protect ourselves and our children from the industries’ tactics and misleading advertisements.
Make no mistake.
No matter the envelop or the flavour, all tobacco products, without exception and regardless of its manufacturer, are extremely toxic and dangerous for the persons who smoke and for the people around them, particularly their families and children.
It is important that we do not fall into the trap of the industries advertisement.
Nicotine addiction does not start by accident.
The industry has come up with over 16 000 flavours.
They are not “fun” or “cool“ – they are calculated traps.
Flavours are often cited as the number 1 reason young people start using nicotine and tobacco products.
These products are designed to mask harshness, manipulate impressions, and build lifelong addiction.
PO: What can we do to prevent these deaths and the economic loss caused by tobacco in Pakistan?
The main actions to prevent these deaths and the economic impact are:
o Increasing taxes on tobacco.
In 2023, a tax increase on tobacco products led to reduced consumption and increased revenues.
Around 26.3% of smokers cut down on cigarette consumption, which declined by 19.2%.
In parallel, revenue collection from the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes increased by 66% — from PKR 142 billion in 2022-23 to PKR 237 billion in 2023-24.
o Banning advertisement.
o Tobacco health warnings.
o Health services and counsel for those who want to quit.
PO: The tobacco industry complains about illegal trading.
Would taxes increase illegal products?
When it comes to the health and economic impact of tobacco, all tobacco products, without exception and regardless its manufacturer, are extremely toxic and dangerous.
There is no such thing as good tobacco.
Experience from many countries demonstrates that illicit trade can be successfully addressed even when tobacco taxes and prices are raised, resulting in increased tax revenues and reduced tobacco use.
In Pakistan, official data also shows that the overall cigarette production in Pakistan increased by nearly 22%—reaching almost 28 billion sticks in the first nine months of FY 2024/25 compared to the same period in FY 2023/24—.
Tobacco production keeps increasing and killing and generating annual economic losses for the country amounting to PKR 700 billion.8-Are increased taxes effective to reduce tobacco use and protect public health?
Yes. In 2023, a tax increase on tobacco products led to reduced consumption and increased revenues.
Around 26.3% of smokers cut down on cigarette consumption, which declined by 19.2%.
In parallel, revenue collection from the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes increased by 66% — from PKR 142 billion in 2022-23 to PKR 237 billion in 2023-24.
PO: What would be your advice for those who want to quit but cannot?
Seek medical counsel, but also do as myself or other persons I know did when they realized that dying to tobacco would also leave behind their families, their children, so the impact is not only for the smoker, but for their families as well.
If you do not quit smoking for yourself, at least you can do it for your family, for your children and your grandchildren.
