MARDAN, July 12: The Tobacco Dealers Association, NWFP, has announced a drive against the levy of tobacco cess by the provincial government.

The NWFP government had from the current year levied Rs2 per kg cess on the transportation of tobacco leaves sending a wave of unrest and anger among the growers and dealers.

The decision of launching a drive against the tobacco cess was made at a protest meeting of the TDA, NWFP, held at Par Hoti on Friday.

Cess collection contract, estimated at Rs50 millions for the current year, had been awarded to a former MNA, Rahmanulluah Khan, of Naway Kalley, Swabi.

Differences sprouted up at Friday’s meeting when Awal Syed, a dealer, accused some of his colleagues of an under-hand deal with the officials of Pakistan Tobacco Board during the floating of the tender for cess collection contract.

However, it was decided to form an action committee to convince growers against the levy of cess. They also decided to observe strikes in various districts against the purchase of tobacco.

The meeting also decided to launch agitation by blocking main high ways in the province.