peshawar
The third meeting of the Regulatory Committee constituted for the medicinal and research use of the industrial hemp plant was held on Monday at the Excise Department office on Shami Road, Peshawar.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Syed Fakhar Jehan, Minister for Health Khaliq-ur-Rehman and Minister for Law Aftab Alam.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Khalid Ilyas, Secretary Health Shahidullah Khan, Director General Excise Abdul Haleem Khan, senior officers of various wings of the Excise Department and members of the regulatory committee representing the Agriculture, Health and Law departments.Officials from PCSIR Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Industries and other relevant departments and institutions were also present.
During the meeting, the recommendations prepared by the sub-committee constituted by the Regulatory Committee regarding matters related to industrial hemp were reviewed.
The forum was briefed on the proposals pertaining to the issuance of licenses for the medicinal hemp plant, fixation of excise duty and other related regulatory aspects.
After detailed deliberations, the Regulatory Committee decided that the case regarding the rates of issuance of licenses for medicinal hemp plants and determination of excise duty rates would be submitted to the Provincial Cabinet for approval.
It was further decided that applications for industrial licenses for medicinal hemp, along with other related documentary requirements, would also be placed before the Provincial Cabinet for approval.
Similarly,after final approval of the cabinet, the process will be opened for the concerned industry to obtain licenses.
It is pertinent to mention that medicinal hemp is a plant intended for industrial, research and medical purposes. It is non-intoxicating, free from narcotic effects and does not have any side effects.
