The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Monday banned carrying naswar – an addictive substance mostly consumed in Pakistan and Afghanistan, to Gulf states.
The force revealed that a passenger can be penalized as per the law of the destined country if he is found carrying naswar with him.
The authority has also put up banners on display at different airports across the country in this regard.
Earlier in June 2019, The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has placed a ban on carrying naswar on all domestic and international flights.
As per the notification, carrying naswar would also be considered a crime if recovered from luggage of any Hajj pilgrims.
In 2018, officials of the Pakistan Mission in Iraq had advised Pakistani nationals travelling to the republic to not carry naswar as many carrying the tobacco snuff were arrested in the Middle Eastern country.
The arrests were reportedly made at airports for carrying naswar, mostly used by Pashtuns, after the Iraqi officials considered it something used as drugs.
It is pertinent to note that a huge number of Pashtuns in or outside Pakistan use naswar as addiction and those living in Gulf countries for job, carry naswar from Pakistan or sometimes, prepare it abroad. The market of naswar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is estimated at around Rs6 billion annually.
The tobacco snuff is also used by people in Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh since a huge number of Pashtuns live in other parts of the country with almost 80% of the production is traced back to Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts.
