Experts at a stakeholder seminar on Sunday underscored the manipulative strategies employed by the tobacco industry, disguised as corporate initiatives, to shape public opinion and obstruct progress in public health.
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) organized a high-level seminar titled “Unveiling the Smoke Screen: Tobacco Industry Interference and Monitoring in Pakistan.” The event brought together local and international experts to examine the industry’s propaganda aimed at promoting misleading narratives about emerging tobacco products.
In his opening remarks, Syed Ali Wasif Naqvi, Senior Research Associate at SDPI, emphasized that the tobacco industry has consistently hindered global public health progress. He noted that in Pakistan, corporate giants exploit various tactics to manipulate public opinion, influence policies, and obscure their harmful impact.
Dr. Waseem Iftikhar Janjua, Consultant at SDPI’s Health Centre, presented findings highlighting the industry’s underhanded efforts, calling for increased vigilance and transparency. He referred to the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance’s Tobacco Industry Interference Index (TII), which revealed attempts to sway national policies through standardization bodies.
Dr. Janjua also expressed concern over the unregulated import of tobacco and electronic products through duty-free channels in Pakistan. He introduced the Tobacco Harm Reduction Project, aimed at investigating the industry’s role in perpetuating tobacco-related harm.
SDPI’s research revealed how the industry manipulates public media, including the state-run Radio Pakistan, to promote pro-tobacco narratives. The institute has countered these efforts by engaging with government entities, publishing op-eds, producing radio content, and leveraging social media to expose the industry’s tactics.
Dr. Sophie Braznell from the University of Bath highlighted that governments worldwide remain vulnerable to the tobacco industry’s influence, stressing the need to identify and address all instances of interference.
Dr. Tracy Johnston of STOP UK debunked the industry’s claims of fostering economic growth, noting its role in escalating public health burdens.
Locally, Dr. Minhaj us Siraj and Sania Ali Khan pointed out the industry’s misuse of corporate social responsibility initiatives and celebrity endorsements to sanitize its image.
Khurram Hashmi, Senior Technical Lead at Vital Strategies, emphasized SDPI’s commitment to combating tobacco proliferation, urging stronger policies to safeguard public health. Despite challenges, continued efforts, research, and international collaboration provide hope for a tobacco-free future.
