Part of the issue in the Indian middle class (with presumably similar things in Pakistan) is the strong desire to find wisdom in old folk remedies. I can't begin to count the number of WhatsApp forwards early in the pandemic touting gargling with salt water as a means to combat the virus. That, or nigella seeds, ginger, tulsi, ghee, etc.
While these nuskas might work for some things, it's the sheer confidence with which they were touted to work on COVID-19. Gargling with warm salt water might help with the symptoms of congestion, but will it eliminate coronaviruses before they take hold? The WhatsApp forwards virtually offered guarantees: "do this everyday and you'll never get COVID-19"
"Our ancestors didn't have such problems because they ate lots of ghee", etc etc
Pretty sure they know whatever they say is slander, it's just the invisible hand of monetary incentives doing its job. Who knew public stupidity could be leveraged to such an extent.