The Civil Aviation Authority has declared carrying naswar during travel in planes a punishable offense.

According to a notification of the CAA, all the airports in the country have been alerted about the ban on carrying naswar.

The notification says all Arab countries have listed naswar on the list of narcotics. It said strict action will be taken against passengers if naswar was found in their luggage.

The notification mentioned that all the Arab countries have included naswar in the list of narcotics and that from here on out, strict action will be taken against passengers carrying naswar in their luggage.

The CAA warned that from now onwards, strict action will be taken against passengers carrying Naswar in their luggage. The passengers carrying Naswar with them would have to face legal proceedings.

The ban applies to the Hajj pilgrims as well.

The CAA and airport security force have placed banners at all the airports in this regard. The passengers have been advised against carrying Naswar in the banners.

A huge number of Pashtuns in or outside Pakistan use naswar as addiction and those living in Gulf countries for job, carry naswar from Pakistan or sometimes, prepare it abroad. The market of naswar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is estimated at around Rs6 billion annually.