10/03/2026
https://www.dailyparliamenttimes.com/2026/03/09/ni****ne-pouch-campaign-sparks-public-health-concerns-in-pakistan/
Ni****ne Pouch Campaign sparks public health concerns in Pakistan
Islamabad,(Parliament Times): The Coalition for To***co Control Pakistan (CTC-Pak), a coalition of like-minded civil society organisations working to promote to***co control and protect public health, has expressed serious concerns over a recently launched promotional campaign for ni****ne pouches marketed under well-known brands. The coalition warns that such advertising risks encouraging ni****ne addiction among young people in Pakistan.
The campaign, widely circulated on social media, features prominent Pakistani celebrities and portrays ni****ne pouches as a fashionable, modern lifestyle choice. Produced by a global advertising agency, the campaign has gained significant traction across digital platforms.
Public health advocates caution that the messaging used in the campaign may create a misleading impression that ni****ne products are harmless alternatives, despite the well-documented addictive nature of ni****ne. According to CTC-Pak members, glamorising ni****ne consumption through celebrity endorsements and entertainment-style advertising risks normalising ni****ne use among young audiences.
“Using celebrities to promote ni****ne products sends a powerful signal to youth that these products are fashionable and socially acceptable. This is extremely alarming from a public health perspective,” a representative of CTC-Pak said.
Ni****ne pouches such as VELO and Zyn are marketed as smoke-free alternatives to ci******es. However, health experts emphasise that these products still deliver ni****ne—a highly addictive chemical linked to dependence, cardiovascular risks, and potential impacts on brain development among adolescents.
These products are manufactured by British American To***co and Philip Morris International, two of the world’s largest to***co companies, which promote ni****ne products globally as part of their so-called To***co Harm Reduction (THR) and “smoke-free” portfolios.
CTC-Pak has urged federal and provincial governments, along with relevant regulatory authorities, to review whether such promotional campaigns comply with Pakistan’s to***co control laws. The coalition also called for a complete ban on the marketing and promotion of ni****ne products, particularly on social media platforms where such content can easily reach young audiences.
Islamabad,(Parliament Times): The Coalition for To***co Control Pakistan (CTC-Pak), a coalition of like-minded civil society organisations working to promote
