The interim Sindh government has banned the consumption of gutka, naswar, and smoking in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses after Governor Kamran Tessori signed the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2023 into law.

Those violating the rules will be fined Rs1,000 under the new amendment. Smoking or consuming paan, gutka and naswar at the bus stop and corridor is also banned.

Similarly, exiting or entering the buses through the wrong door will result in a fine of Rs500. Special seats will be reserved for the disabled and differently-able passengers on the buses and a failure in identifying the seats will result in a fine of Rs500.

Children below the age of five will not be charged any fare while travelling in the BRT buses.

The caretaker government of Sindh also banned the use of gutka, mainpuri and cigarettes during duty hours in the province.

The caretaker Sindh health minister showed his resentment over the use of gutka and cigarettes by the health staff in public sector offices and premises of hospitals.

Employees of the Health Department are barred from consuming gutka, cigarettes and mainpuri during duty hours. In this context, DG Health Sindh, Dr Irshad Memon has issued guidelines in writing to the concerned departments.