Karachi (Health Desk) – According to a World Health Organization report, the highest rate of oral cancer in South Asia has been recorded among Pakistani men.
The report states that the rate of oral cancer in the country is around 4%, while in Karachi it has reached up to 30% due to the increasing use of gutka, mainpuri, and mawa. It is estimated that nearly one in every five individuals in the city is addicted to these substances.
According to details, in 2021, Sharafi Goth police conducted a raid and arrested a man named Muhammad Tahir, from whose house a large setup for manufacturing gutka and mawa was recovered. The seized items included packing machines, mixing machines, large quantities of betel nut, tobacco, lime, chemicals, and prepared mawa.
Legal experts say that only 5% of cases related to gutka and mawa business result in convictions, mainly due to poor police investigation and weak prosecution.
Statistics show that in Sindh, over 10,000 cases were registered in 2019, more than half of which are still pending, while none of the 145 arrested dealers by 2025 have been convicted.
According to Sindh Police, in a recent meeting chaired by the IG Sindh, it was decided to further intensify and make more effective operations against gutka and mawa.