Tobacco growers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has called for the stoppage of the exploitation of those generating a huge revenue of Rs 69 billion and payment of a price of Rs 162 per kilogram for certified and other varieties as per agreement with them. They expressed these views during a meeting with Senior Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and parliamentary leader of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) in KP Assembly Siraj-ul-Haq.
The delegation of the tobacco growers comprised Rizwanullah Khan, Abdus Samad Safi, Farhad Ali, Haji Sher Ali, Haji Anwar Khan and Zubair Shah. The delegation apprised the senior minister of their problems and demands. They demanded that the federal government should stop the exploitation of the growers’ community generating revenue to the tone of Rs 69 billion and payment of price to them as per agreement.
They also demanded the installation of modern weighing scale for the tobacco and immediate stoppage of the looting of growers in the name of the grading of crop. They also demanded compensation for the loss of tobacco crop due to hailstorm in Mardan and reconstitution of the Tobacco Board. Otherwise, they warned of launching protest movement.
The senior minister advised the growers for adopting peace mean for the resolution of their problems and assured that their problems would be raised with concerned quarters. The senior minister said 80 percent out the total tobacco of the country produced in KP, therefore, their right on both production and income should also be recognised. The matter, he said, would be taken up at concerned forum.
