KARACHI, June 13: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, has imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale, use and storage of betel products and gutkas, within the jurisdiction of the city government, in view of their harmful effects on human lives. According to a press release issued here on Monday, the city nazim said any person found involved in manufacturing, processing, storing and importing the said harmful betel products would be punished under prevailing rules/laws.

It may be mentioned here that the ban is not imposed under Section 144 but the city nazim has exercised his powers under Section 141 (read with Para 44) and Section 195 (read with Schedule 6) of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the city government clarified that no ban was imposed on chewing gum or bubble gum, as published in some newspapers.—PPI