Islamabad: Pakistan's Tobacco Control Cell, part of the Ministry of National Health Services, has been honored with the World No Tobacco Day 2026 Award by the World Health Organization (WHO). The award also recognizes the efforts of Dr. Waseem Iftikhar Janjua, a Senior Researcher at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, for their significant contributions to tobacco control initiatives.

According to Radio Pakistan, the WHO presents this award annually to individuals or organizations across its six regions for their dedication to reducing tobacco consumption. Pakistan's recognition comes on the heels of critical policy reforms aimed at curbing tobacco use within the nation.

Pakistan's strategies include a significant increase in tobacco taxation, with over a two hundred percent rise during the fiscal year 2022-2023. Moreover, the implementation of larger pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging, the National Tobacco Control Strategy 2022-2030, and the establishment of provincial Tobacco Control Cells have been pivotal in their tobacco control efforts. These steps reflect the country's commitment to reducing tobacco consumption and promoting public health.