A comparative study titled “Tale of Two Nations: Pakistan vs Sweden” has highlighted a significant decline in smoking rates in Sweden over the past decade, while Pakistan has recorded a marginal increase, underscoring the need for evidence-based approaches to tobacco control.
The study was presented at a seminar organised for office-bearers and members of the Pakistan Association of Family Physicians (PAFP). It was led by Dr Delon Human, a global health advocate and former Secretary-General of the World Medical Association, and presented to PAFP members by Dr Rizwan Junaid.
More than 50 doctors representing various medical specialties attended the session, which included discussions on the challenges of tobacco control in Pakistan and the potential role of harm-reduction strategies in reducing smoking-related health risks.
According to the study, Sweden’s adult smoking rate declined from 11 per cent in 2013 to 5.3 per cent in 2024. In contrast, Pakistan’s smoking rate increased marginally from 12.1 per cent in 2015 to 12.4 per cent in 2023.
The report attributed part of Sweden’s decline to the availability and uptake of alternative nicotine products, including sinus, nicotine pouches and vape products. It also highlighted the continuing public health burden caused by tobacco use in Pakistan, where nearly one in four adult men is reported to smoke and an estimated 164,000 people die annually from tobacco-related diseases.
