DERA GHAZI KHAN: Easy availability of poisonous wheat preservation pills is being linked to a disturbing rise in incidents of suicide and homicide among poverty-stricken families.

These pills, commonly used to protect stored wheat grains from insects in rural and urban areas, are now being sold without any check or restrictions.

Alarming statistics from the teaching hospital at Ghazi Medical College reveal that in 2022, there were 145 reported cases of people ingesting these poisonous wheat storage pills. Tragically, 54 people lost their lives as a result. In the current year, until June 2023, there have been 126 reported cases of ingestion, resulting in 47 fatalities.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the authorities concerned at the Ghazi Medical College’s teaching hospital have written a letter to the Dera Ghazi Khan commissioner, highlighting this issue. Moreover, they have alerted the health secretary of south Punjab, urging him to present the case to the home department.

The aim is to impose necessary restrictions or a complete ban on the easy availability of these poisonous wheat storage pills, especially in the trans-Indus districts of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan.

This is not the first instance of lethal substances being misused in the region. Previously, the toxic chemical paraphenylenediamine, commonly known as Kala Pathar, was being used for suicides or homicides due to its colourless and tasteless nature. However, due to the efforts of Dr Ibrar Khosa, who pursued the case at the teaching hospital, the district government promptly imposed a ban on the sale and purchase of Kala Pathar.

Authorities now hope for similar action to be taken to address the availability of poisonous wheat storage pills. Urgent measures need to be implemented and enforced to prevent further loss of life among vulnerable communities.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023