ISLAMABAD: The sale of nicotine pouches by the tobacco industry in Pakistan is highly hazardous for the public health, rights activists stressed on Friday.

Waseela Foundation raised an alarm on the aggressive promotion and marketing of local or international brands that carry these nicotine-addictive products.

The Foundation urged the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination to immediately pay attention to this issue.

“We feel that the sale of nicotine should be instantly controlled,” said Dr Ziauddin Islam, Former Technical and Focal Person of the Government of Pakistan to World Health Organizations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and Technical Advisor, Waseela Foundation.

He said if nicotine pouches are to be sold, then they should only be sold under the prescription of a registered medical doctor. This would make sure that consumers become familiar with dangers associated with the use of nicotine in general.

The uncontrolled and ongoing promotion, marketing, and sale of highly addictive nicotine pouches by the tobacco industry in Pakistan is highly hazardous.

These pouches contain an extremely addictive drug called nicotine. Nicotine use is known to cause severe health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and lung diseases, among others. Despite all these risks, nicotine pouches are being marketed and sold freely; this can lead to addiction and widespread health problems.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024