Learning from Bangladesh and India: Why Pakistan Should Embrace Tobacco Harm Reduction

The Bangladesh government recently announced a ban on the import of vapes, believing it would reduce usage and improve public health. The problem, however, lies in equating vaping with smoking and treating them as equally harmful, which is inaccurate. While both involve nicotine consumption, smoking involves combustion, the primary cause of smoking-related illnesses, whereas vapes are smoke-free.

India implemented a similar ban in 2019, with the same goal in mind. However, this approach backfired, leading to the rise of a thriving black market where unregulated nicotine products remain widely available. These unverified products not only present significant health risks but also deprive governments of valuable tax revenue.

Pakistan must learn from the consequences of such policies and adopt a more pragmatic approach centered on Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR). Better alternatives, such as vapes, oral nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products (HTPs), help reduce smoking-related harm.

Public Health England has found that vapes are 95% less harmful than smoking and have played a key role in reducing smoking rates in the United Kingdom. The message is clear: harm reduction works when supported by regulation and awareness, not prohibition.

A 2023 study estimates that Pakistan could save 1,200,000 lives, while Bangladesh could prevent 920,000 deaths through effective harm reduction strategies. By banning better alternatives, governments miss opportunities to provide smokers with viable, less harmful options, inadvertently sustaining smoking rates.

Adult smokers who do not wish to quit will seek ways to satisfy their nicotine needs. Prohibition does not eliminate demand; it only pushes it underground, increasing risks for consumers.

Thus, Pakistan must learn from the missteps of Bangladesh and India. The country should establish a regulatory framework for THR products, ensuring quality control and responsible marketing. By embracing harm reduction, Pakistan can address smoking-related harm while maintaining oversight of product safety and distribution.