In a bizarre turn of events, Rawalpindi police have registered a case over the theft of 10 packets of naswar worth Rs300, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.
According to the channel report, the unusual case began when a man called the 15 Police Helpline and claimed that his naswar, a powdered tobacco product, had been stolen.
Acting on the call, police lodged an FIR at the Race Course police station under their own complaint.
The incident has stirred conversations on social media and in public forums, with many amused by the level of urgency attached to a petty theft case involving a locally popular tobacco product.
While naswar continues to be a commonly used substance across parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, its status has come under increasing scrutiny both locally and internationally.
Following the launch of the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in 2020, local authorities implemented a strict ban on naswar usage onboard metro buses.
Metro bus passengers were instructed to hand over their naswar at stations before boarding. The result: heaps of discarded naswar piling up at metro terminals, visually marking the city’s transition to cleaner public transport norms.
Globally, naswar has also faced tighter restrictions. In 2022, several Arab countries classified naswar as a narcotic substance and banned its use entirely.
In response, Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) issued a strict directive, barring travellers from carrying naswar while visiting Arab nations.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also imposed a ban on its consumption at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.
Reporter: Irshad Qureshi