Pakistan Leadership Program 2020

The JHSPH Pakistan Tobacco Control Leadership Program took place February 2-7 in Bhurban, Pakistan. More than 50 people took part in the program which was a collaborative effort with the national Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (the national Ministry of Health). 

The five-day program focused on leadership principles across a range of tobacco control topics. A highlight of the event was a visit by Dr. Zafar Mirza, State Minister of Health, who gave a short address encouraging the attendees to be aggressive and judicious leaders in tobacco control efforts across Pakistan. Experts from national and international organizations led discussions designed to help the attendees develop a strategic leadership mindset while learning from various tobacco control experiences in Pakistan and other countries. 

The BI-Pakistan-Partner speakers included Shahzad Alam Khan, WHO-Pakistan; Dr. Ziauddin Islam, Vital Strategies, and Malik Imran Ahmad, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; all of whom who supported the program activities, including moderating panel discussions, promoting effective dialogue between speakers and participants, and delivering presentations. In addition, a journalist from the Daily Dawn newspaper shared ideas on communicating the dangers of tobacco and creating public support for tobacco control; and, a timely and informative session addressed the prevalence, use, health harms and regulation of novel tobacco industry-related products in Pakistan, with panelists from the WHO and Addressing Smokeless Tobacco Use & Building Research Capacity in South-Asia (ASTRA).