Swabi tobacco farmers protest low crop prices

Tobacco growers in Swabi, Pakistan, held a large protest outside the Swabi Press Club to demand fair pricing for their crops. Protesters reported that buyers are offering as little as PKR 350 per kilogram, despite the Pakistan Tobacco Board having established an official rate of PKR 750 per kilogram.

During the demonstration, local farmer Haji Tameez Khan burned 500 kilograms of tobacco bundles. Khan stated that the production cost is approximately PKR 750 per kilogram and noted that farmers are struggling with significant debts owed to laborers and suppliers. He criticized multinational companies and the Pakistan Tobacco Board for failing to ensure that the official rates are honored.

National Awami Party district chairman Masood Jabbar described tobacco as a vital cash crop for the region and warned that the protest movement could expand across the entire district if the concerns of the growers are not addressed.