Gutka use linked to rising oral cancer cases in Sindh

A report published by The News on Sunday describes a growing oral cancer problem in Sindh linked to gutka use. It also notes that official case records include only diagnosed patients, while many people in rural areas seek care late or do not reach diagnostic facilities.

The report, by Qazi GM and published on October 11, 2026, tells the story of Ajmal Soomar Samejo, a 29-year-old from Buhara in Thatta district. He was diagnosed with severe oral cancer at a government hospital in Karachi last year. He began chewing gutka at a young age and can no longer speak; he also struggles to open his mouth to eat.

Gutka remains available despite a ban

Gutka is a mixture of areca nut, tobacco, slaked lime and flavourings. It is sold in small, inexpensive packets through roadside vendors, small shops and tea cafés, including near schools, despite an official ban.

The report says the World Health Organization classifies areca nut as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is a proven cause of cancer. It cites IARC Monographs (Vol. 100E) linking areca nut with oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer. The Pakistan Medical Association has repeatedly described smokeless tobacco as a major cause of mouth cancer in Pakistan.

According to the report, gutka reached Pakistan in the late 1980s and 1990s. It spread from Karachi into interior Sindh, including Thatta, Sujawal and Tharparkar, through cheap, informal retail networks.

Recorded cases do not show the full picture

Records from Civil Hospital Thatta, compiled under the supervision of Dr Shayam, show 553 diagnosed oral cancer cases in 2024, 395 in 2025 and 95 up to April 6, 2026. Doctors say the figures cover formally diagnosed patients only. They describe underreporting as a major problem because many rural patients seek care late or never reach diagnostic facilities.

The Sindh government has banned gutka production and sale, with stricter enforcement around 2017. The report says implementation has been inconsistent and gutka remains available in local markets.

Thatta MPA Haji Ali Hassan Zardari has called publicly for gutka and similar products to be eradicated. He linked enforcement failures to corruption in supply chains and pointed to supari, or areca nut, as a key input. Thatta Press Club president Iqbal Jakhro said the issue requires collective effort, adding that public awareness remains limited.

Quitting can be difficult

The report describes quitting as difficult because of strong cravings, but possible. Zahran Katiar, a 47-year-old woman from Thatta, quit with support from the Sindh Rural Support Organization under the People’s Poverty Reduction Programme. “It was difficult to withdraw from this gutka, but I tried and overcame it,” she said.

Social-sector professionals Khadim Hussain Shar and Tarique Ahmed Korai told TNS that awareness and advocacy are essential to addressing the problem. The report says gutka-related oral cancer is preventable and that early screening greatly improves survival chances.