Pakistan: Minister Expresses Concern over Decreasing Tobacco Cultivation in KP

Source from:  Pakistan Observer 07/26/2012

Provincial Minister for Agriculture Arbab Muhammad Ayub Jan Wednesday expressing grave concern over decreasing tobacco cultivation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said the hostile policy of Tobacco Board is discouraging farmers to cultivate tobacco crop. Talking to a delegation of Tobacco farmers here at his office, he said that the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has already rejected the policies of Tobacco Board while considering those anti farmers. He said as per the policy of the provincial government the Tobacco Board is bound to consult farmers and fix the tobacco prices before the seeding seasons, however the Tobacco Board instead of implementing the government’s policy fix the tobacco prices of its own will and protecting the interest of tobacco companies. He said the federal government earns Rs 60 billion annually from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the head of excise duty on tobacco and 45 per cent sales tax. He criticized the Tobacco Board for not implementing Rs. 182 price of tobacco per Kg as fixed by the Federal Ministry of Commerce and said that the price of Rs. 117 on per Kg is unjust and unfair. Enditem