SWABI, Oct 13: The Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) apathy and violation of tobacco marketing Law, MLO 487, by the tobacco companies and small cigarette manufactures had caused a loss of over Rs200 million to the tobacco growers in the NWFP.

This was stated by the general secretary of Anjuman-i- Kashthkaran, NWFP, Ismail Jan Khan here on Sunday. He gave details of, what he said, various exploitative tactics of the companies, which had tacit support of PTB members.

Disputing the PTB officials consumption figures of the companies—Lakson Tobacco Company 7 million kg, Pakistan Tobacco Company 4 million and the small cigarette manufactures 2 million kg surplus tobacco— he said they purchased much more then that and earned millions inflicting great loss on the poor growers.

He rejected the PTB official plea that there were 13 million kg surplus tobacco, saying that there were over 15 million kg surplus tobacco which were declared surplus through a well devised strategy. The total purchased tobacco (over 52 million kg -37 million kg from agreement holders and over 15 million kg surplus) by the companies in the current year would be matured for the cigarette manufacturing in next year.

The previous year stock, he said, which had turned mature is only 56 million kg, sufficient for the current year cigarette manufacturing.

The buyers created the bogey of surplus tobacco and it was very beneficial for them while increasing the tobacco grades from 12 to 17, he added. “There are only 12 grades in the MLO 487 but the companies had introduced 17 grades.”

Before the cultivation of tobacco, the companies, he said announced through the PTB that they would only need 37.182 million kg.

They purchased this quota from the agreement-holders and the remaining 15 million kg as surplus tobacco. In fact, they need tobacco more than they had announced but declared that they had slashed their requirements to declare tobacco surplus and purchase it from the growers on low prices.

To a question he said the growers had no option but to grow tobacco. It was the only cash crop across the district Swabi and some other areas.

He urged the government to make tobacco an exportable commodity like rice and cotton.