In Peshawar, 60% of tobacco users consume naswar, a smokeless tobacco product particularly popular among the Pashtun population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Former Agriculture Minister, Major (Retd.) Sajjad Khattak, argued against taxing naswar, citing its widespread use and acceptance under Sharia law.

However, recent research conducted by Khyber Medical University and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has revealed that naswar contains harmful substances like nicotine, invisible metals, and aflatoxin components, which can lead to cancer.

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The study, carried out across all seven divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, analyzed 14 major brands of naswar and identified 85 different chemical compounds, with nicotine being the most prevalent.

Researchers have highlighted the urgent need to implement smokeless tobacco control policies in Pakistan, where naswar use is a growing public health concern.