Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan and the Health Services Academy (HSA) convened a workshop aimed at crafting strategies to eliminate tobacco and nicotine products from educational institutions nationwide. The event, titled “Protecting the Next Generation: Tobacco-and Nicotine-Free Campuses,” focused on actionable measures for creating healthier campus environments.

According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the workshop was co-chaired by Director General HEC Engr. Saleem Ullah Sohoo and Dr. Nazish Babar from Bacha Khan Medical College & Hospital Swabi. It brought together stakeholders, health experts, academic leaders, and youth to address the growing concerns of tobacco and nicotine use among students.

Dr. Matiur Rahman, Dean of Allied Health Sciences and Head of the Department of Lung Diseases and Tobacco Control, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized the importance of maintaining educational institutions as safe environments and discussed the challenges in enforcing tobacco-free policies. He pointed out the serious threat posed by emerging nicotine products, such as vapes and e-cigarettes, underscoring the urgency of the initiative.

Participants engaged in intensive brainstorming sessions and group activities to design targeted campaigns for tobacco-free campuses. The collaborative effort aimed to develop unified policies that can be effectively implemented across educational institutions in Pakistan.