KARACHI: Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has written a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran to curb trade of betel nut (areca) via Iran into Pakistan.
“We have requested earlier to suspend the trade of betel nut but still importers are using Iran routes for transporting the commodity into Pakistan. Now we again remind you to take strict action against these goods,” the letter noted.
According to Ministry of Health, betel nut is the main cause of mouth cancer in Pakistan as 30,647 cases have been reported and 12,761 new cases are diagnosed every year.
Pakistan Ministry in its letter noted that import of betel nut is banned in Pakistan, and yet it is still coming from neighboring countries.
Similar concerns have also been conveyed to Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.