Islamabad: Adult tobacco consumption in Pakistan has seen a noticeable decline over the past ten years, but the reduction is primarily driven by a significant decrease among men, as highlighted in a recent analysis by Gallup Pakistan. According to Gilani Research Foundation, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data from 2014 and 2024 reveals that overall tobacco use fell from 19.1% to 16.1%, a 3 percentage point drop. However, the decline is almost entirely attributed to men, whose smoking rates decreased by 6.4 percentage points, while women’s rates remained statistically unchanged.

The survey, conducted by the National Institute of Population Studies Training and Research (NIPS&TR) in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services and the World Health Organization, involved interviews with over 11,000 adults in 2024. It shows that the gender gap in tobacco use remains substantial, with 25.8% of men and only 5.9% of women using tobacco. Secondhand smoke exposure has also decreased across all measured locations, though it still poses a significant health risk in public spaces such as restaurants and public transport.

Despite the progress in reducing tobacco use among men, the data indicates that tobacco control measures have not effectively reached women. Additionally, health warnings on cigarette packages are less noticed, and cessation efforts remain largely unchanged, suggesting the need for more comprehensive strategies to address these ongoing public health challenges.