Govt told to submit progress report on passing bill against sale of gutka

The Sindh High Court has directed the law secretary to submit a report regarding progress in passing a bill in the provincial assembly against the sale and manufacturing of gutka and mainpuri in the province.

The direction came at a hearing of a petition against the sale and manufacture of gutka and mainpuri in the various districts of the province. Petitioner Muzamil Mumtaz submitted that the sale and manufacturing of gutka and mainpuri was continuing in different parts of the city and other districts despite clear directions of the court to initiate action against manufacturers of these hazardous items.

The court observed that the Sindh government had been directed to make legislation to check the making and sale of hazardous food items like gutka, mawa and mainpuri.

Law secretary Shariq Ahmed submitted that the bill to legislate on gutka and mainpuri use had been tabled in the Sindh Assembly and had been pending deliberations since. The court directed the law secretary and other relevant officers to submit a report regarding progress on the bill at the next date of the hearing as it was sanguine that by then substantial progress on the bill would have been made.

The court directed the Sindh IGP to submit a progress report saying what action had been taken against manufacturers and sellers of gutka and mainpuri as well as against police personnel who were patronising that business in their areas.

Meanwhile, the health secretary submitted a report of the last five years of 20 health facilities in the province with regard to cancer patients, including mouth cancer patients.

The report states that Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre has received as many as 9,453 oral cancer patients in the last five years out of a total of 11,428 admitted cancer patients. According to the report, the Civil Hospital has received 717 oral cancer patients out of a total of 12,873 cancer patients who were admitted over the last five years.

The Larkana hospital has received 1,392 oral cancer patients, 3,113 mouth cancer patients were received at Baitul Sakoon Cancer Hospital, Kiran Hospital received 5,608 oral cancer patients, 163 oral cancer patients arrived in Lyari General Hospital, Lyari hospital received 183 oral cancer patients, the AKU received 635 oral cancer patients, Liaquat National Hospital treated 360 oral cancer patients, Nimra Hospital Jamshoro received 796 oral cancer patients, and the SIUT received 18,035 cancer patients in the last five years.