Vice chancellors, rectors and heads of higher education institutions across Pakistan have signed a charter aimed at making university campuses free from tobacco, smoking, vaping and recreational nicotine products. The initiative seeks to promote healthier learning environments and reduce the use of nicotine products among university students.
The Charter for Tobacco and Nicotine-Free Campuses was adopted during the fifth monthly meeting of the Vice Chancellors and Rectors Forum. The meeting was hosted by COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) at its Islamabad campus.
University leaders from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting. They discussed challenges facing the higher education sector and explored ways to strengthen cooperation among universities.
Under the charter, participating institutions have committed to working towards 100% tobacco- and recreational nicotine-free campuses. The initiative covers traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.
Universities plan to gradually eliminate the use of these products across their campuses. They will also introduce student-led awareness campaigns to educate young people about the risks associated with tobacco and recreational nicotine use.
The charter also calls for research initiatives, monitoring systems and annual assessments to track progress. These measures are intended to help universities evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts and improve their policies over time.
The forum agreed to send a joint letter, along with the signed charter, to the prime minister through the chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The letter will seek nationwide policy measures to support tobacco- and nicotine-free university campuses.
Speaking at the meeting, COMSATS University Rector Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar highlighted the responsibility of university leaders in responding to social and technological challenges. He also discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, including quantum computing, in scientific research and the future of higher education.
Participants also discussed academic, regulatory and financial issues affecting universities. Representatives from institutions including Air University, Bahria University, FAST-National University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Federal Urdu University, PIEAS, NUTECH and Virtual University of Pakistan attended the meeting.
Other participating institutions included Iqra University, Preston University, SZABIST University, PAF-IAST, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and several other higher education institutions.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to strengthen cooperation among universities and develop evidence-based policies and reforms. The tobacco-free campus initiative is expected to require continued coordination, awareness efforts and monitoring as participating institutions work towards their commitments.
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