Punjab government orders ban on gutka, pan masala

Punjab government on Monday imposed a complete ban on the sale, storage, manufacture and distribution of tobacco-based products, gutka (tobacco-laced areca nut pieces) and pan masala in the state, said a Punjab government official.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had approved the proposal of the state health and family welfare department that proposed a ban on tobacco based products in the state.

"This has been done in the larger interest of public health. The chewing of gutka, pan masala and other tobacco products was a potent health hazard and responsible for deadly disease of cancer especially of mouth and throat,? the government official said.

He further added that other food products based on tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, by whatsoever name, had also been banned with this order.

Previously a ban on these products was ordered in the districts of Amritsar, Ropar, Mohali and Mansa as these are home to some famous religious shrines.

--with inputs from IANS