Tobacco farmers: Standing committee’s efforts to highlight concerns lauded

KPCA official presses lawmakers to reject tobacco bill.

PESHAWAR: Efforts made by the Senate’s Standing Committee on Health to adopt a consultative process on the Prohibition of Tobacco and Protection of Non-Smokers Health bill have been widely appreciated.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Agriculture (KPCA) Senior Vice-President Fazal Elahi Khan has lauded the standing committee on health’s efforts to adopt a consultative process.

“It is good that the committee members have called me to share legitimate concerns of the tobacco farmers,” the document cited him as saying. “The particular bill marginalises the tobacco sector in general and farmers in particular.” He said the livelihood of more than 75,000 farmers and millions of dependents will be jeopardised by this bill.”

“In K-P, which is worst-hit by terrorism and militancy, the opportunities to make a respectable living amidst lack of resources are very limited,” the statement quoted Fazal Elahi as saying. He said the demand for locally-grown tobacco will be reduced and farmers would be left with no option but to start cultivation of poppy again. He requested lawmakers to reject this bill which is aimed at the destruction of the tobacco industry.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.