Tobacco companies in Pakistan may bump cigarette prices

Farmers have asked the government and firms to increase the price of future tobacco products in accordance with the current price hikes in pesticides, fertilisers, and other crop preparation and selling charges.

On May 9, the demand was made at a meeting of Ittehad-e-Kashtkaran in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The participants agreed that the government should reduce agricultural inputs because pesticide, fertiliser, and other costs have risen dramatically.

Attendees suggested that the price of tobacco be set at Rs350 per kilogramme so that growers may meet the current price increases in pesticides, fertilisers, and other expenses spent during crop preparation and marketing.

The newly elected officials also encouraged the government to create favourable local marketplaces for agricultural products to aid hardworking farmers. They demanded that the government and tobacco businesses pay the farmers’ outstanding debts immediately.

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Growers also asked the government to develop a policy to prevent tobacco-related industries from moving from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Azad Kashmir and other provinces.

It should be noted that tobacco is grown in Pakistan, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounting for 80 per cent of total production.

Tobacco products also give Rs135 billion to the federal budget, while the tobacco development tax contributes Rs980 million to the provincial budget.