A 2026 Gallup & Gilani Pakistan survey shows that awareness of electronic cigarettes and vaping remains extremely low in the country, with only 17 percent of adults reporting that they have heard of the technology.
The survey highlights significant demographic differences. Awareness is strongly linked to education: 43 percent of adults with higher education are familiar with vaping, compared to just 12 percent of those with less than an FA-level education—a gap of 31 points.
The data also shows a clear urban-rural divide, with urban residents more than twice as likely to know about vaping as those in rural areas. Younger Pakistanis under 30 are the most aware age group, while awareness drops among older populations.
The findings indicate that although vaping is a growing concern in global health discussions, it remains largely unknown to most Pakistanis. This lack of familiarity presents a challenge for regulators and public health authorities, who must address the information gap before introducing effective policies or harm-reduction strategies.