SWABI: The Governor Inspection Team (GIT) on Thursday sealed the purchasing centres of five tobacco-buying companies during a surprise inspection in the area after receiving complaints from tobacco growers, said sources in the national tobacco-buying industry.

The sources said that GIT team had conducted operations in different areas of Chota Lahor tehsil and took action according to tobacco purchasing rules. At present, tobacco buying is in a full swing in all tobacco growing districts of the province as per rules of tobacco marketing law, MLO-487.

However, it has been learnt that the owners of the smaller companies had earlier staged protests and launched a campaign, claiming they were fighting for the rights of tobacco growers. However, sources alleged that these companies had instead exploited the growers by using various tactics to underpay them, purchasing their crop at rock-bottom prices during successive buying seasons.

During inspection, the team checked records of Frontier Traders and Atta-ur-Rehman and Company in the Sheikh Dheri, Chota Lahor tehsil.

It was revealed that both the companies had not started purchasing tobacco despite repeated instructions issued by the PTB officials.

Later these companies used different strategies to delay payment of farmers for years in violation of tobacco rules as all companies and traders were required to pay to farmers within a month of buying the crop.

The team sealed the two centres of both the companies. Later, the team inspected the purchasing center of Ali Leaf Traders, where 350 bundles of the current crop were found. Moreover, a notice was clearly displayed by the owner at the main gate that tobacco purchase was closed and none of the growers was allowed to bring crop for sale, saidthe sources.This centre was also sealed.

Also, sources said, the team visited Khyber Tobacco Company, Chota Lahor. The company’s manager said that the purchase would start soon. However, he could not satisfy the team members about the outstanding payments of the farmers for the year 2025, therefore, the team sealed the depot.

Finally, the team inspected AK Tobacco Traders. There too, the owner had displayed a notice at the entrance stating that purchase was closed, while 21 bales of the current crop were found at the premises. On this violation, the GIT sealed the centre till further order.

The owners and officials of all five companies were told that the office of the assistant commissioner, Chota Lahor, would handle their case as per rules.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2026