Restricted cultivation: Poppy growers warned of legal action

DCO warns that anybody found violating the ban would be dealt with sternly and the crop would be destroyed.

MANSEHRA: The Hazara administration has warned poppy growers of legal action if they continue with farming the banned crop in Torghar District. They held a meeting with the tribal elders of the district on Thursday. During the meeting, the DCO Fazalur Rehman Khan asked the locals to desist from cultivating poppy in the district as the government had accepted the 23-point agreement signed between the tribal chiefs and the provincial government last year. He warned that anybody found violating the ban would be dealt with sternly and the crop would be destroyed. The elders asked the district administration to arrange alternative livelihood sources for the farmers as they had no other occupation. Furthermore, they demanded that the government to establish a small industrial estate, issue visas to the poppy growers beside other incentives on the pattern of Gadoon Amazai.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2012.