Pakistan records highest smoking-related deaths in South Asia

A recent survey reported that the annual mortality rate due to smoking in Pakistan exceeded both the South Asian and global averages in 2024, highlighting a major public health challenge posed by smoking within the country. 

According to the Gallup survey titled Global Burden of Disease 2024, “Pakistan reports an annual death rate from smoking of 91.1 per 100,000 people, notably higher than the averages for South Asia 78.1 and the rest of the world 72.6.

However, the 30 years of data from 1990 to 2021 showed a decline of 35% in smoking-related deaths, which is lower than 37% in India and 38% in South Asia, and below 42% of the global average. 

The report quoted the World Health Organisation, stating that “purchasing 100 packs of the most-sold cigarette brand in Pakistan requires 3.7% of the GDP per capita. This figure is considerably lower than India’s 9.8% and Bangladesh’s 4.2%.”

Cigarettes were becoming less affordable in the country. Between 2012 and 2022, the amount of a person's income needed to buy 100 packs of cigarettes rose by 38% due to price increases.

Apart from this, Gallup Pakistan polls conducted in 2022 revealed that at least “80% of smokers expressed a desire to quit smoking.”

In November, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department was urged to take action against the use of tobacco by swiftly enacting the eagerly awaited “KP Prohibition of Tobacco and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Bill”. 

The bill could not be approved so far, despite the Law department having completed its review of it in 2016.