Two gutka producing factories inSukhan, a locality in Malir, were sealed on Thursday after a police raid. Gutka worth hundreds of thousands of rupees and machinery was seized during the raid. Malir Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Irfan Bahadur said that the factories were operating under police supervision. “Eleven people have been arrested and an inquiry will be initiated against the involved officials,” he said. In November last year, the police seized huge quantities of gutka during raids in different areas in Karachi. Gutka is a chewable form of tobacco made from crushed areca nut, tobacco, paraffin wax and flavouring. The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the local administration, on October 20, to continue its crackdown against the sale of addictive substances like gutka, mawa and mainpuri. On October 1, 2017 the Sindh cabinet imposed a ban on the sale and use of sheesha, gutka and mainpuri. Published in Daily Times, November 9th 2018.