ISLAMABAD, May 25 (IN):The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has been awarded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Award 2026.The award, one of the highest global honours in tobacco control, was conferred in recognition to the organization’s exceptional services in advancing evidence-based policies that protect current and future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine products, said a press release.
The award, announced on May 19, places SDPI among a select group of global honourees from each of WHO’s six regions. Notably, this year also saw the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and Pakistan’s Tobacco Control Cell recognized by WHO, underscoring the country’s growing prominence in the global fight against the tobacco epidemic.SDPI Consultant Dr Waseem Iftikhar Janjua is been part of the team SDPI producing landmark research on the economic costs of tobacco use, the impact of taxation on consumption, and the illicit tobacco trade.The recognition reflects SDPI’s unwavering commitment to supporting the government, particularly the ministry in three critical areas, i.e. strengthening tobacco taxation, protecting public health policies from industry interference, and countering the rapid spread of emerging nicotine products.
With strategic support and technical guidance from its partners, SDPI has built an influential coalition linking national stakeholders with partners across the Eastern Mediterranean Region and the wider global tobacco control community.Pakistan faces a severe tobacco epidemic with an estimated 31 million tobacco users and over 160,000 tobacco-related deaths each year.
The WHO award highlights the critical need for sustained, evidence-based interventions from raising tobacco taxes and enforcing graphic health warnings to banning flavored nicotine products. SDPI’s work has consistently pushed for these measures, earning praise from national and international partners.The 2026 award adds to SDPI’s growing international recognition as a globally respected think tank, reinforcing its reputation for producing policy-relevant research that saves lives. As World No Tobacco Day 2026 is observed globally on May 31, SDPI stands as a beacon of what dedicated research, strategic collaboration, and persistent advocacy can achieve in the fight against tobacco.
