By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Senate panel approval moves Pakistan closer to a full vape regulatory regime in Islamabad.
- Bill mirrors tobacco controls, pairing public-use bans with a near-total advertising prohibition.
- Product standards, age verification and fines signal tougher enforcement, especially online.
Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services has approved the Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Regulation) Bill and is preparing to table it in the Senate, setting the stage for sweeping new controls on the sale, marketing, and use of vapes and e-cigarettes in the federal capital, Islamabad.
Moved by Senator Sarmad Ali, the bill reflects growing concern among lawmakers about increased vaping among school- and college-age students and would, for the first time, establish a formal regulatory framework for the import, distribution, and promotion of electronic nicotine products.
At the core of the proposal is a strict location-and-age regime. The bill would impose a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes within a 50-meter radius of schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, and make it illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under the age of 18.
The legislation also seeks to place vaping on the same regulatory footing as combustible tobacco. If enacted, vaping would be prohibited on public transportation, in government offices, public parks, and other shared public spaces. Advertising would be comprehensively banned across television, social media, and outdoor media, with particular scrutiny of marketing practices deemed to appeal to minors.
Regarding product standards, the bill proposes mandatory safety and quality requirements, including a maximum nicotine concentration of 40 milligrams per milliliter, child-resistant and tamper-proof packaging, and prominent health warnings on all packs. Online marketplaces would be required to implement robust age-verification systems before completing any sale.
Enforcement provisions include an immediate fine of Rs50,000 (US$180)for a first violation of age or location restrictions, with steeper penalties and potential legal action for repeat offenders or those involved in the smuggling or sale of non-standardized e-liquids.
The bill is currently under review by the relevant ministries as enforcement mechanisms are finalized ahead of its formal introduction in the Senate.
