DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Industries, Abdul Karim Tordher, attended a key meeting at the Civil Secretariat Peshawar on Wednesday, chaired by Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam, to discuss the future of the Pakistan Tobacco Board.
The meeting was convened in response to the federal cabinet’s approval of a proposal to dissolve the national institution and transfer its essential functions to the provinces.
During the session, the Special Assistant put forward several constructive proposals for maintaining the institution’s services under the provincial government, with a strong focus on safeguarding the interests of tobacco farmers and growers.
Key officials, including Secretary of Agriculture Atta-ur-Rehman and representatives from the Finance and Excise & Taxation Departments, were also in attendance.
Tordher emphasized that if the institution’s functions were to be transferred, any new legislative framework should prioritize the protection of tobacco-growing farmers. He further recommended that the administration of a potential provincial board be entrusted to qualified professionals with expertise in the sector.
Highlighting the need for efficiency and sectoral development, he proposed a dedicated focus on research and development (R&D) to enhance both the quality and quantity of tobacco production. He also stressed the importance of job security for existing board employees to ensure a smooth transition.
The forum found the proposals reasonable and beneficial for the province, agreeing to hold further meetings to deliberate on the matter and reach a well-scrutinized final decision.
