Pakistan collected a record Rs298 billion (around $1.1 billion) in tobacco taxes in 2024, marking a significant win in reducing tobacco use, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tobacco Epidemic Report 2025. This achievement followed major tax reforms, including a 28% drop in cigarette production.
The WHO praised Pakistan for tripling cigarette taxes, doubling minimum cigarette prices, and increasing the tax share in retail prices. These steps helped reduce legal cigarette production and raised government revenue, supported by technical cooperation between the Federal Board of Revenue and WHO.
However, despite these gains, the report warned that Pakistan still lags in fully implementing comprehensive tobacco control policies. Pakistan is among 40 countries that have not fully adopted any of the WHO’s MPOWER strategies, which include monitoring tobacco use, banning tobacco advertising, and providing help to quit smoking.
While tax reforms succeeded, other key control measures remain weak. Pakistan lacks strong graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and has limited mass media campaigns against tobacco. Neighboring countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have made better progress, with India requiring graphic warnings on 85% of cigarette packs and banning most tobacco ads.
The report also highlighted new tobacco threats like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, which Pakistan has yet to regulate properly. These products are gaining popularity among youth worldwide, raising public health concerns.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that raising tobacco taxes saves lives and boosts revenue. Still, he urged Pakistan to strengthen all tobacco control efforts to protect public health fully and reduce tobacco-related harm.