Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) handed over a donation of Rs 0.5 million for the Prisoners Welfare Fund (PWF), Peshawar, to Akram Khan Durrani, Chief Minister NWFP at Frontier House Islamabad on Wednesday.
The donated money is to be used to help those poor prisoners who can't be set free either because they are unable to pay Diyyat money or do not have financial resources for legal counselling and court fees.
Chief Minister NWFP Akram Durrani in his remarks thanked PTC for its gesture and said that company's contribution to the Prisoners Relief Fund was commendable, as it would help many prisoners to get reunited with their families. He called upon the well to do people to rise to the occasion and put their share in the sacred task.
On his request some of the well to do people of Punjab had helped to get the prisoners free that should be followed by others.
He said that MMA's sincerity to the welfare of the destitute was above board. It was establishing a Darul Kafala in collaboration with China at Peshawar to help the destitute that would cost Rs 30 million.
He also appreciated the role of PTC in national events including forestation and creating awareness against environmental degradation.
Referring to the problems of the tobacco growers, the chief minister said his government was evolving a mechanism to address to the real problems of the growers.
The government has already made up its mind to expose our indigenous product to the international market.
A meeting with the federal commerce minister was due that would take into consideration all aspects to resolve the problems of the tobacco growers. However, the growers should understand their own problems and produce products that could be consumed, better they should revert to other cash crops.
He said NWFP government has recently taken an initiative to help destitute prisoners who have completed their terms of imprisonment but can't be freed because of non payment of Diyyat money or many more that were arrested for petty crimes but continue to suffer as they can't hire lawyers to contest their cases.
The PTC representative Aslam Khaliq speaking on the occasion said "Pakistan Tobacco Company as a responsible corporate citizen has always played a leading role in helping the poor and destitute."
PTC contributes more than Rs 12 billion to the national exchequer annually. It is actively involved in various projects and initiatives for improving the environment, supporting philanthropic organisation, promoting arts and culture and providing priority assistance in the event of natural calamities.
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