Hazardous to health: SHC orders govt to enforce ban on gutka manufacture, sale

The ban had initially been imposed by the provincial ombudsman in December 2000.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Tuesday that the government enforce the ban on the manufacture and sale of smokeless forms of tobacco - mainpuri and gutka.

Headed by the chief justice, Maqbool Baqar, the bench also directed the chief secretary, the home and health secretaries, the Pakistan Standard Quality and Control Authority, inspector-general of police and Karachi's police chief to ensure effective and stringent enforcement of the court's previous order.

The judges cautioned that in case someone was found responsible for the lack of enforcement of the ban, appropriate orders will be passed against them.

The two judges passed these directions while concluding a public interest litigation initiated by a social rights campaigner, Rana Faizul Hasan.

The petitioner, who is the secretary-general of the United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, had approached the court seeking enforcement of Food Ordinance 1960 and Pure Food Rules of 1965 that restrict the manufacture, sale and purchase of substances injurious to human health.

Hasan said that the Sindh Ombudsman had passed an order in December 2000, ordering the relevant provincial and local authorities to stop the business of gutka and mainpuri in the province, particularly in Karachi.

Referring to various media reports, the petitioner informed the judges that more than 80 factories were manufacturing gutka and mainpuri in the city. Police officials were, however, keeping mum on the issue as they received bribes worth millions of rupees from the factories' owners.

Various ingredients used in making chewing tobacco are mostly of inferior quality that the factory owners buy from the market at very cheap rates. The ingredients include highly toxic chemicals, he explained.

The petitioner also highlighted that a body, the Sindh Pan Masala Manufacturers Association, had been founded by those involved in this business to protect them from any action from the authorities.

He pleaded to the court to order the respondents to strictly implement the provisions of the laws. He also sought a direction for the police IG to take action against the manufacturers, sellers and buyers of gutka and mainpuri.

Healthcare: Oral cancer - second biggest in Pakistan

Oral cancer is the second biggest cancer in Pakistan and, according to dentists, it is caused by the use of tobaccos. Around 90 per cent of oral diseases, including oral cancer, are preventable, said one doctor.

“Those who chew gutka are at high risk of getting cancer,” said Dr Shaam Kumar, a dentist in  Thatta. “The use of gutka is increasing rapidly and a patient can only survive if it is diagnosed in the initial stages.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2014.