The research paper "Harnessing Pakistan’s Youth for Tobacco Control" explores the role of youth-led initiatives in strengthening tobacco control efforts in Pakistan. The study highlights findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), which reported that 10.7% of students have used tobacco products, with a significant percentage obtaining them easily from local vendors. Given that 64% of Pakistan’s population is under 30, the paper emphasizes the potential of engaging youth in advocacy, awareness, and policy interventions. The Voices Against Tobacco (VAT) initiative, launched by Indus Hospital & Health Network, is highlighted as a successful youth-driven platform that empowers students through awareness sessions, advocacy campaigns, and data collection surveys. Findings from VAT-led community surveys revealed that more than 70% of respondents believed tobacco was too affordable for youth, and a majority felt the government was not doing enough to curb tobacco use. The study underscores the importance of youth involvement in policy discussions, as evidenced by their participation in advocacy efforts that contributed to increased tobacco taxes in Pakistan’s 2022–23 Finance Bill. The authors advocate for further policy interventions, including stricter regulations on novel tobacco products, advertising bans, and national cessation programs, to build on youth-led momentum toward a tobacco-free Pakistan.
