Islamabad, August 20, 2025 –
Muhammad Ameen, Chairman of the Fair Trade in tobacco (FTT), has called on authorities and the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) to urgently protect thousands of farmers.
Most are smallholders facing severe economic strain due to unfair pricing and delayed payments.
During a press briefing, Ameen highlighted that farmers are forced to sell crops at Rs. 200 below the legally mandated weighted average price.
He warned that delayed payments and unmet quotas, as required under the 1968 PTB Ordinance, threaten the tobacco industry’s backbone.
Ameen urged immediate enforcement of fair purchase quotas and timely payments by local companies. He noted the crisis coincides with promising tobacco export growth, emphasizing the need to support farmers for economic stability.
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