Pakistan Concludes Data Analysis Workshop for Second Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)
Date : 20 May 2026
Venue : Islamabad, Pakistan
The National Institute of Population Studies
(NIPS), in coordination with the Tobacco Control Cell (TCC) of Pakistan and the
World Health Organization (WHO), has completed the technical Data Analysis
Workshop for the second round of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS
2024–25). This milestone represents a major progression in the country's
tobacco surveillance capabilities since its baseline GATS assessment conducted
in 2014. The recent workshop focused on the comprehensive processing and
compilation of national tabulation plans, standardizing the collected data to
prepare the upcoming country report and national factsheets. Once finalized,
this report will serve as an essential technical reference to evaluate domestic
demand reduction strategies and measure national progress against the WHO
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
The forthcoming report is structured to deliver
updated, representative data on tobacco usage among individuals aged 15 and
older across Pakistan, tracking shifts in smoking and smokeless tobacco
prevalence. Crucially, the analysis incorporates
dedicated monitoring sections for newly emerging nicotine and tobacco products,
such as electronic cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine pouches, which have
increasingly entered the local marketplace. By mapping out these current
behavioral patterns and assessing health hazard awareness among the population,
the finalized document is designed to establish a robust evidence base for the
optimization of national tobacco control strategies and the further development
of cessation support services.
