SLAMABAD: According to Gallup Pakistan’s study of the Global Burden of Disease 2024 dataset, Pakistan has one of the highest smoking-related death rates in South Asia, with 91.1 deaths per 100,000 people annually.
The rate highlights a serious public health concern as it exceeds both the global average of 72.6 and the regional average of 78.1 per 100,000 persons.
Even though smoking-related mortality rates decreased by 35% between 1990 and 2021, Pakistan’s decrease is less than those of India (37%), South Asia (38%), and the global average (42%).
The ongoing discrepancy draws attention to systemic problems and constraints that have impeded important advancements.
Gallup Pakistan’s Executive Director, Bilal I. Gilani, emphasized the need of providing the public and policymakers with access to health data.
