PESHAWAR: Tobacco growers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have threatened that they would launch a province-wide protest campaign, if the federal government will implement the proposed ‘Sin-Tax’ on tobacco.
Speaking a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, Rustam Khan, a representative of the tobacco farmers took strong exception a strong exception over the proposal, floated by federal health ministry to impose new tax on tobacco called as “Gunnah Tax” or “Sin Tax”.
He described that the proposed levy on tobacco is insult to the highly religious and conservative farmers of KP. He added the move only aims at to appease some INGO without keeping in mind the critical importance of tobacco crop for the poor farmers of KP. He further said that it is a conspiracy against elected government to give negative image among public and especially farmers of KPK.
Tobacco farmer’s representatives, Professor Hamid ur Rehman, Anwar Sher, Abdul Salam, Shahid Zubair, Zubair Muhammad, Babar Khan, Sajid Khan. Fazal Qadir, Khan Muhammad, Tariq Sial, Naqeeb Khan, Shad Khan from Manshera, Buner, Swabi, Charsada and Mardan were present during the press conference.
