Islamabad: The Pakistan Young Scientists and Innovators Council (PYSIC) has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to strengthen regulations on the import, sale and use of electronic cigarettes and vaping products, citing growing popularity among young people, particularly students.
In a letter, PYSIC President Ch. Muhammad Haseeb Usman, General Secretary Annan Usman and Vice President Rania Riffat called for greater scrutiny of vaping products, highlighting concerns about potentially harmful chemicals in e-cigarette liquids and aerosols.
The council noted that these products may contain nicotine, flavouring agents, metals and other substances. Heating e-liquids can also produce harmful compounds, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein.
Citing research by Johns Hopkins University, the council leaders said analyses of emissions from popular vaping products had identified nearly 2,000 chemicals, many of which remained unidentified. They urged stronger oversight to address potential public-health risks, especially among young people.