THIS refers to a serious issue that has endangered the livelihood and welfare of millions in underprivileged of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country.

A controversial bill has been tabled in the Senate that suggests imposing a ban on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities being carried out by tobacco companies in far-flung and backward areas.

To quote a personal instance here, one of my close family relatives living in a tobacco farming community lost her husband some time ago. She found it hard to make both ends meet and feed her four small children.

She was asked to join a programme organised by a local NGO to empower women like her who got no support from anywhere else. She learnt how to run her own poultry farm and also how to manage her business and finances.

Today, she is a proud owner of two farms. Her elder son is supporting her in running one of the farms and her other two children are going to school.

Such programmes executed by local NGOs and supported by tobacco companies should not be subject to such strict regulation as they are working to improve the livelihoods of individuals working in these areas. I appeal to the Senate to refrain from banning such activities as thousands of people like my relative are benefiting from these initiatives.

Rahim Ullah Orakzai
Peshawar, Khyber

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2016