E-cigarettes in Pakistan

Global business and regulatory news and updates from the vape industry

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10th October 2024: Pakistan: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) has called on the government to regulate emerging addictive nicotine tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and other flavoured tobacco products, which, according to Sparc, are often marketed as trendy and less harmful. Sparc programme manager Khalil Ahmad stressed the urgency of implementing strict policies to prevent nicotine addiction, warning of long-term health risks that surpass any short-term economic gains. Sparc calls for greater public awareness, comprehensive legislation, and coordinated policy measures to address the potential health risks of these products and safeguard public health, particularly among young people.
1st October 2024: Pakistan: Health experts have called on state authorities to implement stricter regulations to curb the rising use of e-cigarettes, vapes and nicotine products, particularly among the country’s youth. Concerns about increasing consumption levels among youth were discussed at a seminar titled “Evolving Trends: A Deep Dive into New Nicotine and Tobacco Products”, organised by the Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) and Health Services Academy (HSA).
30th September 2024: Pakistan: The public health lobbying group Concerned Mothers has met with members of parliament to advocate for a ban on novel nicotine products. The group’s efforts to reduce smoking risks included a call for increased taxes on all tobacco products, with the aim of making them unaffordable for young people.
23rd August 2024: Pakistan: The district administration in the city of Abbottabad, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has enforced a ban on the sale and use of e-cigarettes in public places. Additionally, the administration has prohibited the advertisement of e-cigarettes and nicotine products on media platforms, as well as the display of pamphlets on vehicles and walls within the district, according to local newspaper the Daily Aaj. The sale of e-cigarettes has also been banned within the vicinity of colleges, schools, hospitals and parks.
2nd July 2024: Pakistan: The Finance Act 2024 entered into force on 1st July, imposing an excise duty on e-liquids of PKR10 ($0.04) per ml, irrespective of the nicotine content, or 65% of the retail price – whichever amount is higher.
27th June 2024: Pakistan: The district government of Peshawar – the capital city of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a population of over 4.7m – has imposed specific measures on the use, marketing, advertisement, and sale of e-cigarettes, press reports. The measures include a ban on the sale of e-cigs to under-21s, a ban on their usage in public places and on public transport, and a ban on their sale within 100 m of educational or health facilities or parks. These measures will remain in force for 60 days. Currently, e-cigarettes are subject to general consumer protection laws in Pakistan.
17th June 2024: Pakistan: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed a bill to amend the Federal Excise Act. Under the proposed amendments, e-liquids will be subject to an excise tax of PKR10 ($0.04) per ml, irrespective of the nicotine content, or 65% of the retail price – whichever is higher. Currently, e-liquids are taxed at a rate of PKR10 ($0.04) per ml, irrespective of the nicotine content.
18th January 2024: Pakistan: The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become the first province to ban the sale of e-cigarettes, regardless of nicotine content, to under-21s, press reports. Vaping within 50 m of educational institutions is now also banned. This comes after health organisations Blue Veins and Provincial Alliance for Sustainable Tobacco Control asked the governor of the province, Haji Ghulam Ali, to take measures to reduce e-cigarette consumption and prevent their sales to under-age consumers.
31st August 2023: Pakistan: Experts and health advocates, such as the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), have urged the government to take immediate action and ban novel tobacco products, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes, press reports. Malik Imran Ahmed, country head for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK), said that these products are being consumed by young people and that Pakistan should take measures as other countries have. Ziauddin Islam, former technical head of the Tobacco Control Cell at the Ministry of Health, also said that these products pose a risk to health and should be banned.
20th February 2023: Pakistan: In response to the recent cigarette tax increase, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) – an independent non-profit organisation – has said that the government should impose high taxes on heated tobacco and e-cigarettes, reiterating that increasing the taxes will result in reduced consumption and will help to fight the black market, press reports. Last Tuesday, 14th February, the government increased the general sales tax of standard cigarettes to 18% and the excise duty on cigarettes from PKR6.5 ($0.025) to PKR16.5 ($0.063) per cigarette – an increase of 153% – according to a local report.

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