Ayub Jan resents PTB's anti-grower policies

Posted on 10 months ago

Says farmers were not consulted when fixing tobacco price
PESHAWAR (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Agriculture, Arbab Mohammad Ayub Jan has expressed deep grief and anger over the anti-growers policies of Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB).
Talking to a delegation of growers here Wednesday, he said that the provincial government which is the guardian of the rights of growers had already rejected the anti-growers policy of the tobacco board.
He said that according to the policy of the provincial government, PTB is required to fix tobacco price in consultation with the growers. But, he lamented that tobacco board instead of following the policy of provincial government has protected the interests of tobacco companies and has fixed price of the crop on its own.
The price fixed by the board, he said had already been rejected and growers across the province have launched protest movement against it.
However, he said that the provincial government will fully stand by the growers.
The provincial minister said that federal government earns a huge amount of Rs.60 billion in head of excise duty and collect 45 per cent sales tax from tobacco related businesses.
But, due to the anti-growers policies of PTB tobacco cultivation area had declined by 50 per cent, which is a very serious issue.
He said that after the passage of 18th Constitutional Amendment the income of Rs.60 billion in head of excise duty and 45 per cent sales tax should be handed over to the province.
He said that tobacco board failed in the implementation of the Rs.182 per kilogram price fixed by the Ministry of Commerce and termed the price of Rs.117 per kilogram a sheer injustice with growers.
He said that the official of tobacco board should take decisions after holding consultations with growers.

comments powered by Disqus