PESHAWAR: Doctors have called for a complete ban on the sale of wheat pills, insisting people are using these highly lethal aluminum and zinc phosphide items to die by suicide.

Mardan Medical Complex director Dr Gulzar Ahmad Khan wrote a letter to the divisional commissioner on Friday, recommending the sale of wheat pills in the region in the “best public interest”.

He also called for the imposition of that ban across the province.

The director noted that the consumption of wheat pills was causing medical emergencies, with the mortality rate of almost 90 per cent.

“It is intimated that wheat pills (aluminum phosphide or zinc phosphide), which are highly toxic rodenticides and fumigants, are easily available on the market. These pills cause very severe poisoning in humans when taken accidently or in suicide attempt,” he said.

However, growers suggest restrictions on sale to prevent financial losses

Dr Khan added that those pills caused massive multi-organ failure, while poisoning caused by them was a catastrophic medical emergency with no known antidote.

The doctors at accident and emergency departments told Dawn that aluminum phosphide (AlP) was a highly toxic, inorganic compound, used primarily as a fumigant for stored grains and a pesticide.

They said the AIP released extremely poisonous phosphine gas on contact with moisture or acid, making it a common cause of accidental or intentional poisoning with high mortality, so it required strict licensing and handling due to severe cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological effects.

“We receive many patients who consume wheat pills and die ultimately. Some of them survive just because they’re brought to the hospitals on time,” a senior medical officer said.

He said that most AIP victims were women who took the pills just because they’re available in the houses of farmers.

The expert said some women had claimed after surviving suicide attempt that they’re forced by their male family members to consume wheat pills.

He said a ban should be slapped on those pills as their use was an easy way to end lives.

However, farmers oppose a total ban on wheat pills, saying the pills are undoubtedly dangerous but there should be a strict control on their sale to prevent misuse.

They insisted that a blanket ban could cause serious agricultural losses.

“These fumigants are still one of the most effective tools for protecting stored wheat from pests, especially in large godowns and rural storage facilities,” a grower said.

He said completely banning the sale of wheat pills would lead to destruction of large quantities of stored wheat by insects and rodents.

The farmers said the ban on wheat pills could lead to financial losses to farmers, cause food insecurity and increase wheat prices.

“Instead of a total ban, authorities should consider restrictions on wheat pills and allow their sale by those with proper and valid licences only. They can limit the sale of wheat pills to registered godowns, flour mills and trained users,” a farmer told Dawn.

He also said wheat pill packaging should be controlled and a ban should be slapped on their loose and open sale permitting.

“Only sealed, labelled packs should be allowed under strict monitoring,” he said, recommending penalties and jail terms for illegal sale.

The growers also urged district administrations to hold training and awareness sessions for wheat pill buyers and handlers.

They said the government should promote safer alternatives for those pills until affordable substitutes were available.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2026