SWABI, Oct 25: Tobacco growers have expressed concern about the adoption of Framework Convention Tobacco Control (FCTC) recommendations by World Health Organisation, saying the move would deprive growers of their only source of livelihood as it didn’t provide them with an alternative.

In a joint meeting held here on Thursday, Kashtkar Coordination Council (KCC) and Kisan Board said the main point of contention was FCTC Article 6, which had adversely affected the interests of farmers by advocating increase in taxes and reduction in tobacco growing areas.

Liaquat Yousufzai of KCC and Khalid Khan of Kisan Board told reporters here that FCTC said price and tax measures were an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by people.

“Though it is being proposed to increase tax on tobacco and reduce its cultivation, it will be self-defeating, especially when there are no alternative sources of livelihood for tobacco growers,” he said.

Mr Liaquat said FCTC had been developed as a conspiracy hatched by developed countries.

Mr Khalid said in the framework, it had been admitted that the determining tobacco taxation policies was the sovereign right of the relevant parties but at the same time, it had been advised that the member states determine and establish their taxation policies in accordance with Article 6.2 of FCTC.

He said: “In such circumstances, where has the constitutional authority of member countries gone to set their own fiscal policies?”

Mr Liaquat and Mr Khalid said the guidelines had been drafted by bureaucrats with little knowledge of ground realities in member countries.

They said the FCTC discussion relied too heavily on the experience of the European Union on tax system and its tobacco tax directive and that environment in developing countries, including Pakistan, was completely different.

According to them, tobacco in Pakistan is the main source of revenue for the tax authorities.

“Despite lacklustre economy, tax-compliant cigarette industry contributes to around 37 per cent of total federal excise duty collected in Pakistan.

The proposed measures will badly hit the government revenue,” Mr Liaquat said.

He said poverty was more dangerous as it compelled people to turn violent. He said Kisan Board appealed to the government that until provision of alternative source of livelihood to tobacco growers was ensured, FCTC should not be implemented.