Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the KP, has faced a procedural delay after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Secretariat asked which department would enforce the proposed KP naswar bill law. In fact, the KP naswar bill has generated debate about implementation across departments.
Officials said the bill cannot move forward until authorities identify the relevant department, after which the Law Department will review the draft. This procedural step is crucial for the KP naswar bill to progress.
Pakistan Muslim League-N lawmaker Aamna Sardar introduced a private member’s bill to regulate, rather than ban, naswar production, sale and distribution in the province. The KP naswar bill specifically focuses on regulation and public health safety.
The draft law requires licences for producers and sellers, sealed packaging and restrictions on sales near schools, madrasas and hospitals. The bill also bans online, social media and delivery-based sales, along with advertising, promotion and free samples.
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Producing or selling naswar without a licence would carry a fine of up to Rs30,000 under the draft.
Selling naswar to minors could bring a Rs50,000 fine and up to one year in prison. Public spitting would draw an on-the-spot fine of Rs1,000. The bill would allow deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and health officials to inspect premises and seal shops found violating the law.
Supporters said the measure aims to protect children and bring smokeless tobacco under a formal public health framework. Therefore, the KP naswar bill is seen as a significant step toward public health reform in the province.
