Pakistan Government Suspends Activities of International Anti-Smoking Organizations

Jan.17.2025
Pakistan Government Suspends Activities of International Anti-Smoking Organizations
Pakistan government accuses two international anti-smoking organizations of unauthorized activities and requests suspension of their operations.

According to a report by Sigmagazine on January 15th, the Pakistani government has accused two international anti-smoking organizations, "Tobacco-Free Kids" and "Vital Strategies," of acting too arbitrarily and has requested the suspension of their activities. These two organizations are well-known for their strong opposition to e-cigarettes and for being funded by American billionaire Michael Bloomberg.


According to reports, the Pakistani Ministry of Interior has ordered the ban on the activities of these two organizations and has sent a letter to relevant departments in all provinces of the country. Additionally, the State Bank of Pakistan has frozen the accounts of these two organizations as per the request of the Ministry of Interior. Copies of the letter received by local media outlets show that these organizations are accused of operating in Pakistan without authorization and without being properly registered with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, or the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.


According to reports, these two organizations have been collaborating with the National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Department of Pakistan for many years.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Special Report|FDA Revises Device Name in Glas Vape Authorization; Company Signals Optimism on Menthol, Flavored Pods
Special Report|FDA Revises Device Name in Glas Vape Authorization; Company Signals Optimism on Menthol, Flavored Pods
The FDA updated public records on the PMTA authorization of a Glas vape product, renaming “Glas G Device” to “Glas G² Device” and releasing the order letter detailing scientific review and marketing restrictions. Company disclosures suggest the platform may include age-verification technology. If confirmed, Glas G² could be the first vape with device-level age verification to receive an FDA MGO. Glas executives also said menthol and other flavored pods could gain authorization in the future.
Special Report
Mar.14
U.S. Military Smoking Debate Spotlights E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches as a “Bridge”
U.S. Military Smoking Debate Spotlights E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches as a “Bridge”
At a policy forum hosted by The Hill and sponsored by PMI US, U.S. defense health officials, lawmakers and industry representatives discussed tobacco use in the military and explored the potential role of smoke-free nicotine products — including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches — as transitional tools to help service members reduce reliance on combustible cigarettes.
PMI
Mar.23
Malaysia’s Selangor health authorities fine company US$5,000 over toy-like vape devices
Malaysia’s Selangor health authorities fine company US$5,000 over toy-like vape devices
Selangor’s health department said a company was fined RM20,000(US$5,000) for supplying vape devices designed to resemble toys. Officers raided the firm’s premises near Taman Kosas in Ampang on Dec 19, 2025 after discovering it was importing and distributing toy-shaped vape devices.
Mar.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea’s finance ministry to directly crack down on illegal high-nicotine vape liquids
South Korea’s finance ministry to directly crack down on illegal high-nicotine vape liquids
The report says South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (referred to as the finance ministry) will directly lead crackdowns on illegal distribution and “upward manipulation” of nicotine concentrations in liquid e-cigarettes, after cases of extremely high-strength nicotine liquids circulating at retail shops were highlighted.
Feb.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
West Virginia House Passes 5% Income Tax Cut and Rejects Vape Tax Increase
West Virginia House Passes 5% Income Tax Cut and Rejects Vape Tax Increase
The West Virginia House of Delegates debates income tax cut bill before session's end, rejecting Senate's e-cigarette tax amendment.With one day left in the legislative session, the West Virginia House spent more than an hour debating amendments to an income tax reduction bill.
Mar.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Kyrgyzstan Plans to Extend E-Cigarette Import Ban by Another Six Months
Kyrgyzstan Plans to Extend E-Cigarette Import Ban by Another Six Months
According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy, the government plans to extend the current ban on e-cigarette imports by another six months once the existing measure expires, with the new restriction set to take effect on July 10, 2026. The ban covers disposable e-cigarettes as well as nicotine-containing liquids for reusable systems.
Apr.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai