This demand was raised during an event organized by the Society for the Protection of Children's Rights (Sparc), calling for influential individuals on social media to step forward to address the need for a ban on online sales and advertising of emerging tobacco products.
The speaker emphasized that the tobacco industry has been manipulating children and young adults to purchase new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products through various marketing strategies on social media.
Malik Imran Ahmed, the representative of Smoke-free Children's Movement, expressed his concerns about the tobacco industry and stated that they are implementing advanced strategies to introduce new nicotine and tobacco products to the market.
By introducing the concept of healthier smoking alternatives, the tobacco industry has entered the local market and is now engaging in online sales and promotions. The industry claims that these new tobacco products are less harmful and only intended for smokers looking to quit, but this is misleading to the general public.
However, these products are being openly promoted and sold online to young, new consumers. This indicates that these products are not healthier alternatives, but rather tools to attract new consumers, without consideration for the possible harm they may cause to the health of children and adolescents," he said.
Dr. Ziauddin Islam, the representative of Vital Strategies in the country, has stated that the tobacco industry is polluting Pakistan with emerging online sales and advertising of new products. This underscores the urgency to prohibit them from conducting online sales and advertising of emerging tobacco products in Pakistan.
Approximately 31 million people in Pakistan consume tobacco, and the introduction of new products is expected to increase this number. Social media is also being used to increase the number of tobacco users, as online platforms are open to the tobacco industry to promote the sale and advertising of harmful emerging products, according to a spokesperson.
Khalil Ahmed Dogar, project manager for Sparc, has stated that due to weak policies regarding online advertising and sales, new tobacco products such as nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products can easily be purchased online.
He urged the government to consider this situation as an urgent matter concerning children's rights, as it will directly harm their health, education, and future development.
Policy makers have a responsibility to ensure that the country does not implement anti-child policies. The government must prohibit the advertising and sale of such harmful products, particularly online displays of these products, as social media is a massive platform influencing young people in Pakistan," he said.
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