CM Gandapur thinks the use of Naswar isn't a "bad habit"

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur once again stirred a controversy with his soft-corner for those who use Naswar, which is a form of smokeless tobacco.

The PTI-led provincial government was mulling to impose a tax on Naswar in the fiscal year budget 2024-25.

Several members of Gabdapur's cabinet also proposed to bring tobacco to the next net.

But, the proposal was opposed by CM Gandapur as the latter argued that “naswar is used by poor people and tax should not be imposed on it”.

However, the CM retracted his previous statement saying that chewable tobacco is not used by only common people.

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پتہ چلا ہے کہ نسوار صرف عام لوگوں کا نشہ نہیں خاص لوگوں کا بھی ہے،، اس لئے کچھ ٹیکس بڑھا رہے ہیں ،وزیراعلی خیبرپختونخوا علی امین گنڈا پور pic.twitter.com/S1p2gR0j3v

— Ghazanfar Abbas (@ghazanfarabbass) May 25, 2024

"We haven't raised tax on several things for many years. We conducted a debate to increase the tax on Naswar and some people opposed it. It just came into my knowledge that Naswar is not only used by common people but special people too," the PTI stalwart said.

"We are increasing tax on it [Naswar] but not too much," he added.

In response, a journalist asked Gandapur whether he chews Naswar or not.

"Luckily, I don't use Naswar but if someone is using it I don't consider it wrong," the KP CM noted.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), smokeless tobacco carries a high risk for oral cancer.

As per a study published in the Oxford Journal of Public Health, Naswar is smokeless tobacco (ST) which usually contains powdered tobacco, slaked lime, and indigo. Users either sniff it nasally or place a pinch under their tone or against the inner walls of the cheek. 

"It has a high pH and contains unionised nicotine and carcinogenic — likely to cause cancer," the study said.