Over the past two decades, the global prevalence of tobacco use among adults (aged 15 and above) has significantly declined. According to the World Health Organization’s “Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000–2030,” the proportion of tobacco users worldwide decreased from 32.7% in 2000 to 20.9% in 2022, marking a 36% relative reduction. This achievement is largely attributed to the coordinated efforts stemming from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a global treaty designed to strengthen national and international responses to the tobacco epidemic.

However, in Pakistan, the situation remains concerning. Despite being the fifth most populous country globally, the tobacco burden remains heavy. As of 2024, an estimated 31.6 million adults, or nearly 20% of the adult population, use tobacco in some form. The adult smoking prevalence stood at 12.4% in 2023, with a stark gender divide: 22.2% among men and just 2.1% among........

© The Dayspring