Islamabad, 10 November 2026 (TNS): Human Development Foundation (HDF) organized a Stakeholder Policy Dialogue on Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) and Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS), bringing together parliamentary representatives, government officials and other stakeholders to examine Pakistan’s existing regulatory frameworks, identify gaps and exchange perspectives on tobacco control measures.
The session on GHWs highlighted gaps in the existing framework concerning the size and rotation of pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packaging, with reference to international best practices. The TAPS session examined regulatory gaps in the context of Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), particularly challenges associated with tobacco product promotion through digital and social media platforms.
Ms. Shazia Rizwan, Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture, attended as Chief Guest. Mr. Aftab Ahmed, Project Manager at the National Tobacco Control Cell, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C), participated virtually. Dr. Rashida Batool, District Health Officer Islamabad, Director Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and representatives from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Ministry of Finance and other relevant institutions also participated.
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Rizwan emphasized the importance of larger pictorial health warnings and their regular rotation to enhance public awareness of tobacco-related health risks. She also highlighted gaps in existing TAPS regulations, particularly concerning the tobacco industry’s growing use of digital and social media for promotional activities and the potential implications for young people.
The dialogue provided a platform for identifying regulatory and implementation gaps, exchanging technical perspectives and discussing opportunities for improved coordination among relevant government institutions, particularly the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C), to inform evidence-based tobacco control measures in Pakistan.
