'Naswar' bill seeking to regulate production, sale of snuff introduced in KP Assembly

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Secretariat has raised legal objections to a private bill seeking to regulate the production and sale of naswar (snuff).

According to details, Aamna Sardar of the PML-N submitted the draft of the Regulations of Snuff (Naswar) Bill, 2026 to the assembly secretariat. However, the secretariat questioned which government department the bill should be referred to, stating that a decision can only be made after identifying the relevant authority.

It added that the law department will give a final opinion once the concerned department is determined. The proposed legislation seeks to make the production and sale of naswar without a licence a punishable offence across the province, with fines of up to Rs30,000. It also makes it mandatory for naswar to be sold in sealed packaging.

The draft bill further proposes banning the sale of naswar within 100 metres of schools, madrasas and hospitals. Selling naswar to minors could result in a fine of Rs50,000 and up to one year in prison.

Additionally, the bill calls for a complete ban on online, social media and delivery-based sales of naswar, as well as prohibiting its advertisement, promotion and free distribution of samples.

It also proposes an on-the-spot fine of Rs1,000 for spitting naswar in public places, while deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and health officers would be empowered to conduct raids and seal shops for violations.