Karachi police seized 22,000 kilgrams (kgs) of gutka in the last three months. Over 400 people were also arrested for selling and producing gutka. However, for gutka addicts, acquiring gutka is not a difficult despite the ban on production and sale of gutka. Consequently, business is flourishing in the port city. “We are addicted,” said gutka consumers “we cannot stop consuming it”. Speaking of availability of gutka, they said that it was ‘openly available in several areas like Lyari, Korangi and Orangi.’ Earlier on October 20, Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the local administration to continue its crackdown against the sale of addictive substances like gutka, mawa and mainpuri. Published in Daily Times, December 3rd 2018.