Three growers associations of NWFP on Wednesday demanded restructuring of the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) to give proper representation to the farmers, enabling it to resolve the problems of tobacco growers in the province.
The demand was made at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club (PPC). The press conference was addressed by Murad Ali Khan, president of Kisan Board, NWFP, Ikramullah of Drub House, Anjuman-e-Kashtkaran Tobacco NWFP, and Abdul Haleem Mayar of Anjuman-e-Kashtkaran NWFP.
They alleged that the present board is exploiting tobacco growers who are contributing annually more than Rs 28 billion for the country, but still no relief has been given to them..
The growers associations criticised the Pakistan Tobacco Board particularly for fixing the prices of the agricultural product.
They demanded that the price of tobacco should be fixed at Rs 70 per kg.
"The tobacco companies are earning Rs 0.1 million over one kg of tobacco purchased at Rs 44," Abdul Haleem Mayar said.
Ikramullah of Drub House said that the multinational companies were manufacturing one thousand cigarette sticks from one kg tobacco and each stick has price Rs 3 which he said show the quantum of the profit of the companies.
The participants said that the growers' associations have decided that if the companies failed in implementation of the directives of the provincial government and continued exploitation of the growers then they would launch a protest movement against PTB and tobacco companies.
Ikramullah demanded of the federal government to amend the Tobacco Board Ordinance to ensure fixation of prices of tobacco before cultivation of the crop and save the growers from exploitation by tobacco companies.
He demanded of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to issue a special credit line and announce system for tobacco export. He alleged that due to lack of exports and minimum pricing, the multinational companies are purchasing the product at throwaway prices of their choice.
The meeting threatened to besiege the offices of the Pakistan Tobacco Board and to embark on a march towards Islamabad.