Dubai: To deter the use of paan (betel leaves), Dubai Municipality carried out a week-long campaign that resulted in the seizure of 250 kilograms of paan.
According to Local Order 98/1996, importing paan products to Dubai is against the law and those who chew and spit it in public places have to pay a fine of Dh500.
The municipality campaign targeted commercial areas in Deira and Bur Dubai, as well as in worker’s accommodations in Al Qouz, Jebel Ali and Sonapur to also raise awareness against the harmful side-effects of paan products.
The campaign was carried by the Operation Unit in Bur Dubai under the Waste Management Department of the municipality.
“The drive comes as part of Municipality’s efforts to eradicate bad habits and behaviours found in people that affect the public health levels of the city,” said Abdul Majeed Saifaie, director of Waste Management Department at the municipality.
In 2012, Dubai Municipality seized 1,024 kilograms of paan products and fined 79 people.
“Chewing paan and spitting it out in public spaces affects the global acceptance of our city from [visitors], in addition to damaging the clean image of the street and affecting a person’s health,” said Saifaie.
Sohail Mohammad Awadhi, Head of the operation Unit at Bur Dubai said, “the awareness campaign primarily focused the negative impacts of chewing paan, and guiding people regarding the legal consequences of using paan items was also included in the awareness lectures.”
Awadhi further added that municipality officials conducted seminars in the Arabic, English, Hindi and Bangladeshi languages to target the various nationalities that tend to chew paan.
