Islamabad: A bill seeking to regulate the production, sale, and use of vaping devices and e-cigarettes has been introduced in the Senate, marking Pakistan’s first legislative effort to bring electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) under formal regulation, a move that effectively regulates their sale through defined controls rather than banning them.
The Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Regulation) Bill, 2025 proposes to set rules for the manufacturing, import, advertisement, and sale of vapes, e-cigarettes, and sheesha devices, while restricting their use in public places and prohibiting sales to minors.
The bill defines product standards, mandates packaging and labelling requirements, and introduces penalties for violations, creating for the first time, a legal framework for the country’s fast-growing vaping market.
Under the draft law, no ENDS product can be imported, manufactured, or sold unless it meets prescribed quality standards and carries tamper-proof, child-resistant packaging with bilingual health warnings stating: “This product contains nicotine which is addictive.”
Each pack must include the manufacturer’s details, ingredient list, nicotine concentration, and a declaration that the product is not intended for anyone under 18.
The bill also bans advertisements in print, broadcast, and outdoor media but permits limited online trade, provided that retailers use age verification systems to prevent access by minors. It prohibits the use of vaping devices in public offices, hospitals, educational institutions, and public transport, and bars sales within 50 meters of schools and colleges.
Violations could result in fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 500,000, depending on the nature and frequency of the offence.
The proposed law also empowers the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to define safety and product standards, including a nicotine cap of 40mg/ml. It mandates that packaging should not feature designs, images, or cartoons likely to attract children or teenagers.
Public health officials say that while the bill introduces long-needed controls, it also legitimizes a market that has so far operated without oversight. “Instead of banning these devices, this bill essentially regulates their sale under regulation,” said a senior health ministry official.
“It creates a lawful space for an industry that already targets young people through sleek marketing and flavours.”
The bill was moved by Pakistan People’s Party Senator Sarmad Ali, who said the objective is to “safeguard public health and protect non-users” by ensuring that all such products are sold under safe and standardized conditions.
“Vaping has become a trend among young people, with even 12 and 13-year-olds seeing it as something cool. We need to change this perception before it gets worse. It’s alarming how freely these products are being sold in shops and markets across the country. They’re addictive, harmful, and urgently need regulation to protect our children”, Sarmad Ali said.
Pakistan currently has no formal law governing e-cigarettes or vaping, despite growing evidence that their use among school and college students is rising. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that unregulated marketing and lack of national standards have made e-cigarettes the new entry point for nicotine addiction among Pakistani youth.
Experts say the bill reflects a global policy divide: some countries have banned e-cigarettes altogether, while others have chosen to regulate them as harm-reduction tools.
In Pakistan’s case, the new framework would mark a shift from ambiguity to legalization through regulation.
If passed, the legislation would make Pakistan one of the few South Asian countries to formally recognize and regulate vaping, a move public health advocates say could open the door to wider availability while policymakers argue it will bring the industry under official scrutiny for the first time.
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