PESHAWAR: The Provincial Alliance for Sustainable Tobacco Control Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alongside the local Non-profit organization Blue Veins on Thursday demanded an immediate ban on vapes and e-cigarettes in Pakistan.
This urgent demand aligns with the recent directives by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has recommended that governments should treat e-cigarettes similarly to traditional tobacco products and enforce a complete ban on all flavors, they told a media conference here at Peshawar Press Club.
The highlight of the conference was on the unregulated sale of e-cigarettes and vapes, especially spotlighting their detrimental impact on Pakistan’s youth.
The speakers said that despite common misconceptions that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking, the WHO has underlined the necessity for urgent steps to regulate these products, adding that recommended actions include the prohibition of flavoring agents like menthol and the implementation of rigorous tobacco control steps, such as usage bans in public places and high taxes.
Program Manager of Blue Veins Qamar Naseem said that the Federal and provincial governments must act swiftly to impose a complete ban on vapes and all forms of e-cigarettes in the country. The potential health hazards, particularly to the youth, are too significant to overlook.
Chairman Provincial Doctors Association Dr. Qazi Shahbaz said that imperative to ban vapes in the country is clear. It is about protecting public health and preventing a new generation from falling prey to nicotine addiction and its harmful impacts.
Misperceptions about vaping
Chest Specialist LRH Dr. Ihtisham said that vaping, often perceived as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, is a growing concern in the medical community. There is a lack of convincing evidence to back the idea that vapes are effective tools for quitting smoking. On the contrary, the use of vapes introduces a new set of health risks, including respiratory problems, which must not be overlooked.
