ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce observed on Friday that tobacco companies were paying low prices to growers.

Presided over by MNA Iqbal Mohammad Ali Khan, a meeting of the committee was held at Parliament House discussed issues relating to procurement of tobacco.

It also observed that the growers did not get tobacco seeds of good quality.

The committee directed the Pakistan Tobacco Board to take steps to redress grievances of the growers and ensure that they received good prices.

A sub-committee, to be headed by MNA Syed Naveed Qamar, was constituted to look into the problem and recommend measures to provide relief to the growers.

The committee observed that the board had no interest in research on production of tobacco seed of better quality.

The meeting was attended by 15 MNAs.—APP