Vice chancellors, rectors, and heads of higher education institutions have signed a charter to make university campuses across Pakistan free from tobacco, smoking, vaping, and recreational nicotine products.
The Charter for Tobacco and Nicotine-Free Campuses was adopted during the fifth monthly meeting of the Vice Chancellors and Rectors Forum, hosted by COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) at its Islamabad campus.
The meeting brought together university leaders from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to discuss key challenges facing the higher education sector.
Under the charter, participating universities have committed to achieving 100% tobacco and recreational nicotine-free campuses. The initiative covers cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches.
Universities will gradually eliminate the use of these products while introducing student-led awareness campaigns, research initiatives, monitoring systems, and annual progress assessments.
The forum also agreed to send a joint letter, along with the signed charter, to the Prime Minister through the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), seeking nationwide policy measures.
Speaking at the meeting, COMSATS University Rector Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar highlighted the responsibility of university leaders in addressing social and technological challenges.
He also discussed the impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, including quantum computing, on scientific research and the future of higher education.
The participants also discussed academic, regulatory, and financial challenges facing universities.
Representatives from several institutions attended the meeting, including Air University, Bahria University, FAST-National University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Federal Urdu University, Health Services Academy, HITEC University, National Skills University, NUTECH, PIEAS, and Virtual University of Pakistan.
Officials from Alhamd Islamic University, Northern University, City University Islamabad/Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Iqra University, PAF-IAST, Preston University, SZABIST University, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and IUCPSS Pakistan also participated.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to strengthen cooperation among universities and work together on evidence-based policies and higher education reforms.
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