Naswar Regulation Bill Tabled in KP Assembly

A landmark piece of legislation, the Regulation of Snuff (Naswar) Bill 2026, has been introduced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly by Aamna Sardar of Pakistan Muslim League-N. The bill aims to regulate, rather than ban, the widely used but previously unstructured naswar market, with a focus on public health. Key provisions include mandatory licensing, restrictions on sales to minors and near schools, standardized packaging with health warnings, and a ban on promotion. This move is intended to formalize production and distribution, protecting children and young people from health risks without disrupting the market. The initiative is being praised by various public health and civil society groups as a balanced and historic step to fill a critical regulatory gap.