Peshawar
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is facing an urgent demand from tobacco farmers to roll back the recent drastic increase in tobacco tax.
The farmers have threatened to launch massive protests, including the potential surrounding of the Chief Minister House and the Provincial Assembly. Rizwanullah, President of the Kisan Board, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, made this urgent call to action during a press conference held at the Peshawar Press Club. Leaders of various tobacco farmers from Mardan and Swabi joined him.
Rizwanullah highlighted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces the largest tobacco crop in the country, yet tobacco farmers have historically been marginalized.
He emphasized that the federal government currently collects a tax of Rs 380 per kg of tobacco and that farmers contribute approximately Rs 170 billion annually in taxes. Despite this significant contribution, the funds are not reinvested into the welfare of the tobacco-growing areas.
Leaders of the tobacco farmers, including Abdus Salam Bacha, Member of the Kisan Board, Ikram Khan, Master Zubair, Sher Zaman, Asghar Yousafzai, Awal Sher, and Arshad Khan, former Nazim of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, Swabi, reiterated the challenges faced by farmers.
They highlighted that the cultivation of tobacco is a meticulous and labor-intensive process, often involving the whole family. Moreover, they expressed their disappointment over the provincial government’s decision to increase the tax from Rs 6 per kg to Rs 50 per kg, especially at a time when the crop is ready for harvest, a decision that has added to their already heavy burden.
The farmers pointed out that 70 percent of the province’s tobacco production comes from Swabi. They argued that last year’s favorable market conditions had encouraged farmers to invest more effort into this year’s crop, resulting in a high-quality yield.
However, the increased costs due to inflation have made cultivation more expensive, and the tax hike has further strained the farmers. Additionally, tobacco-buying companies have reduced their purchases, exacerbating the farmers’ financial difficulties.
The representatives warned that massive protests would occur if the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government did not withdraw the tax increase. They expressed their readiness to take drastic measures, including surrounding the Chief Minister House and the Provincial Assembly, to ensure their demands were met.
“The government must listen to the voices of the hardworking farmers,” said a resolute Arshad Khan. “We will not be silenced and demand justice for our community and families.”
