As the global conversation around smoking shifts towards harm reduction, countries are taking decisive steps to offer better alternatives to smokers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized Zyn nicotine pouches, recognizing them as a reduced-risk alternative to traditional cigarettes. This decision underscores a growing trend: regulating better nicotine alternatives can help reduce smoking-related harm. Yet, Pakistan continues to struggle with outdated policies that ignore harm reduction as a viable approach.
Pakistan has one of the highest smoking rates in the world, with over 25 million tobacco users. Each year, more than 160,000 lives are lost due to smoking-related diseases, and the economic impact is severe—an estimated USD 3.85 billion is spent annually on smoking-attributable illnesses. Despite these alarming statistics, policymakers have yet to introduce a clear regulatory framework for nicotine pouches, leaving consumers exposed to unregulated products.
While nicotine pouches like Zyn and Velo are available in Pakistan, their market operates in a legal gray area. Unlike the U.S., where the FDA’s authorization ensures product quality and safety, Pakistan lacks structured regulations to evaluate and oversee these alternatives. This absence of regulation not only creates uncertainty but also prevents smokers from accessing reliable harm reduction tools.
Many European countries have embraced harm reduction, provide a compelling case for its effectiveness by dropping its smoking rates to just 4.5%. The U.S. is following a similar path by authorizing nicotine pouches under strict regulatory guidelines. Pakistan, however, remains hesitant, missing the opportunity to reduce smoking prevalence and its associated health burden.
The need for regulatory action in Pakistan is urgent. Establishing a framework for nicotine pouches would ensure product quality, inform consumers, and provide smokers with better alternatives to traditional cigarettes. More importantly, it would align Pakistan with global efforts to reduce smoking-related diseases and economic strain.
With harm reduction becoming an integral part of tobacco control worldwide, Pakistan stands at a critical juncture. Will it continue to rely on outdated policies, or will it take proactive steps to regulate safer alternatives and protect public health?