In Pakistan, 19.1% adults consume tobacco causing around 160,000 deaths/year. Pakistan government has introduced a number of measures inline with WHO MPOWER strategy e.g. introduction of pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs and smoke-free legislation. However, there has been slow progress on other measures such as raising tobacco taxes and offering people help in quitting tobacco. In the meantime, the tobacco industry has directly interfered in policy in Pakistan through its usual tactics such as blocking tobacco tax rises by claiming high illicit tobacco trade. Tobacco industry constantly interferes in policymaking – a key reason for ineffectual tobacco control.

Project Goals and Objectives:

The STOP survey has a long-term aim to provide objective, regular and timely information on tobacco users of Pakistan to help key policy decisions. Its specific objectives for 2019/2020 are to assess the:

1. Proportion of cigarette smokers who use illicit
2. Nicotine dependence and motivation to quit among smokers.
3. Triggers to, the methods used in, and the success of quit.
4. Attitude of smokers towards tobacco control policies and cessation aides (including the willingness to pay) e.g. counselling, medication, e-cigarettes.

This survey is being in the 10 most populous cities of Pakistan with a target population of 40,956,323 smokers.

STOP Survey Questionnaire:

STOP Survey_questionnaire_V1.2_final_17-08-2019

STOP Survey Fact Sheet: 

STOP_factsheet_Final_12-05-2020

Published paper:

Illicit cigarette trade in the cities of Pakistan comparing findings between the consumer and waste recycle store surveys

Siddiqi, K. et al. (2020) ‘Attitudes of smokers towards tobacco control policies: findings from the Studying Tobacco users of Pakistan (STOP) survey’, Tobacco control. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-055995https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2020/12/14/tobaccocontrol-2020-055995

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