A new legislative proposal in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aims to bring formal regulation to the production and sale of naswar (smokeless tobacco), without banning it outright.
What the bill proposes
The Regulation of Snuff (Naswar) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the provincial assembly by PML-N lawmaker Aamna Sardar. Its main focus is to regulate the industry through oversight rather than prohibition.
If passed, the law would introduce:
- Mandatory licensing for manufacturers and sellers
- Ban on sales to minors
- Restrictions on shops near schools and public spaces
- Crackdown on informal and unregistered sales channels
- Standardized packaging requirements
- Mandatory health warning labels
- Regulation of ingredients and production standards
- A complete ban on advertising and promotion of naswar
- Enforcement mechanisms across the entire supply chain
Policy intent
Lawmakers emphasize that tobacco products remain legal but must be controlled more strictly. The goal is to:
- Reduce harmful consumption
- Prevent early exposure among children and teenagers
- Improve transparency in an otherwise largely unregulated market
Public and expert reaction
The bill has received generally positive feedback from public health and civil society groups.
Supporters, including tobacco control advocates and child rights experts, argue that:
- Naswar has long been widely accessible with minimal regulation
- Children are particularly vulnerable due to easy availability
- Regulation could significantly reduce health risks without banning cultural use
Why it matters
If enacted, this would be one of the first structured regulatory frameworks for smokeless tobacco in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, potentially setting a precedent for broader tobacco control policies in Pakistan.
It’s essentially a shift from an informal market to a controlled, monitored system—similar to how cigarettes are regulated, but adapted for local use patterns of naswar.
