Tobacco-control policy, smoke-free environments, regulation and public-health action.
University leaders from several parts of Pakistan have signed a charter to phase out cigarettes and other tobacco and nicotine products on participating campuses. The initiative also proposes student-led awareness, monitoring and research, while calling for national-level policy support.
Developments in Canada, research on heated tobacco and New Zealand’s smoking trends are renewing debate about whether nicotine products should be regulated according to their risks relative to cigarettes. The examples point to the importance of combustion and access to alternatives, while leaving questions about long-term health effects and policy outcomes open.
A group of Republican senators is urging President Donald Trump to press China to curb exports of illicit vaping products to the United States. The call comes as Alabama prepares to bring in restrictions on vaping in public spaces.
California has approved a phased ban on sales of tobacco-containing disposable vapes, citing concerns about waste from devices with built-in batteries. Restrictions on manufacturing and importing begin in 2027, with retail sales prohibited from 2028.
Pakistan could recover revenue by curbing illicit trade, which sources cited in a Business Recorder report estimate costs the country Rs1,000 billion a year. The issue has come into focus as the government engages with an International Monetary Fund mission on revenue targets and fiscal discipline for FY2026-27.
The Alternative Research Initiative (ARI) and its partners are urging federal and provincial governments to set clear policies for alternative tobacco products, including nicotine pouches, amid rising use and misinformation. ARI says unclear rules can leave these products in the hands of people who do not need them.
Advocates in Bangladesh are calling for rules to be formulated without delay to put the country’s amended tobacco control law into effect. At a Dhaka discussion, speakers said the rules should address gaps in the law and help ensure its provisions are implemented.
Alabama’s ban on vaping in public places is due to take effect on Oct. 1. A law signed by Gov. Kay Ivey adds the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems to the state’s existing restrictions on smoking in many enclosed public spaces.
Tobacco growers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are burning cured leaf as declared buyer demand falls short of production, according to an article by research economist Wajid Islam. The article argues that weak purchasing commitments, delayed payments and limited competition are leaving farmers with surplus they struggle to sell.
