Tobacco growers hold protest demo against foreign companies

ISLAMABAD: Tobacco growers on Wednesday held a protest against the multinational cigarette manufacturing companies on alleged non-compensation of the tobacco rate procured from the growers.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Vice Chairman Itehad Kashtkaran, Iqbal Shewa said that despite repeated requests, the big companies are not giving any monetary compensation to the growers on the procurement rate.

“When season begun the Tobacco growers provided the crop to the companies on Rs425 and later it surged to Rs1400,” said Iqbal.

He said growers are on the verge of facing rupees 15 to 20 million losses because of non-compensation by companies.

Vice Chairman Itehad Kashtkaran further said the grower’s alliance multiple meetings with these two multinational cigarettes manufacturing, but their cries fell on deaf ears.

“Its inflation across every sector and growers won’t be able to earn a penny if the companies didn’t compensate us,” he said.

Iqbal also alleged that multinational companies are using delaying tactics instead of solving the issues of growers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023