RAWALPINDI, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 16th Aug, 2026) A surging trend of vaping among school-going children in Rawalpindi has raised serious alarms among parents, who warn that the practice is spreading rapidly through peer influence and endangering the health and future of the younger generation.
Parents reported that e-cigarettes and vaping devices remain easily accessible to underage students at local shops and points of sale. They noted that curiosity, peer pressure, and a lack of awareness lead students to experiment with vaping, which quickly escalates into nicotine addiction.
Health experts have dispelled the common misconception that vaping serves as a harmless alternative to traditional cigarettes.
Speaking to APP, pulmonologist Dr. Nadeem Khan emphasized that both conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes pose severe health hazards, putting users at risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and pulmonary diseases.
He warned that continuous e-cigarette use can trigger airway inflammation, chronic coughing, breathing difficulties, and long-term oral, brain, and respiratory complications.
Citing data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health professionals highlighted that nicotine exposure during adolescence impairs brain development, negatively affecting attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
Medical experts advised parents to closely monitor changes in their children’s routines, social circles, and behaviors while actively guiding them on the dangers of vaping. Meanwhile, parents urged the government and regulatory authorities to enforce a strict crackdown on the sale of vaping products to minors, introduce tight surveillance on shops near educational institutions, and penalize vendors violating age restrictions to curb supply.
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