Consultation Meeting with Women Parliamentarians on WHO FCTC and Strengthening Tobacco Control

A Consultation Meeting with Members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus (WPC) was held on 25 August 2026 at the National Assembly of Pakistan, Islamabad, focusing on the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and the need for stronger tobacco-control measures in Pakistan.

During the meeting, AF team delivered the presentations to the honorable parliamentarians to enhance their understanding of the WHO FCTC, its key provisions and Pakistan’s commitments under the Convention. The discussion particularly highlighted the need to strengthen Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) and increase taxation on tobacco and nicotine products as effective measures to reduce consumption and protect public health, especially among young people.

The participants also discussed the growing use of e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products and the need for stronger regulatory measures to prevent nicotine addiction among youth. Particular emphasis was placed on establishing a clear regulatory limit for nicotine content in e-cigarettes with a proposal to set the maximum permissible nicotine concentration below 20 mg/ml to minimize nicotine exposure and protect young people.

The honourable members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus expressed their commitment to strengthening tobacco-control advocacy and assured that they would consider moving a resolution in the National Assembly on these important issues including stronger GHWs, increased taxation and appropriate regulation of nicotine products.

The meeting reaffirmed the important role of parliamentarians in translating Pakistan’s commitments under the WHO FCTC into effective legislation, implementation and public-health action with a particular focus on protecting Pakistan’s young generation from tobacco and nicotine addiction.