ISLAMABAD (APP) - A meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Livestock was held here Saturday to discuss the problems being faced by the tobacco growers in the country. Senator Shuja-ul-Mulk, Convener of the Sub- Committee chaired the meeting and attended by Senators Raza Muhammad Raza, Sahibzada Khalid Jan and Dr. Abdul Malik besides the representatives of Tobacco growers, Tobacco Companies and senior officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The Representatives of Tobacco growers submitted that the cost of production has undergone significant increase recently due to a number of factors and there is a need to embark upon measures to ensuring fair return to the farmers. They said that tobacco is one of the most important cash crop mostly grown in selected districts of NWFP like Mardan, Swabi, Charsada but the people managing the Tobacco Board are not fully conversant with the problems of the growers. They demanded that a technical person may be appointed Chairman of the Board for early resolution of their problems. They informed that this sector supports nearly 1.5 million families directly or indirectly all over the country and contribute a colossal amount of Rs. 40 billion in form of duties to the national exchequer. They urged the government to reassess the cost of production and then to fix a price. The tobacco growers also demanded of the Government that tobacco must be included in the crop insurance programme being launched by the Government. The Representatives of the two major tobacco companies lamented lack of availability of reliable statistical data in this field and said market research must be conducted at the government level. They said not only the whole sector but also the supply chain is heavily regulated by the government departments in terms of quotas. They said the companies and the growers are natural partners and therefore, only their mutual cooperation can solve the bulk of the problems being faced in this sector. They urged the government to come down heavily on illegal manufacturers of Cigarettes who are throwing up counterfeit brands. They opined the prices of cigarettes are still very low in the country as compared to other countries of the region. The members of the Senate Sub-Committee asked the government to make all out efforts for safeguarding the legitimate interests of the tobacco growers, a great majority of whom are poor and to ensure fair return on their crops. It asked all stakeholder to demonstrate spirit of cooperation and understanding for overall development of this sector. The Senate body also directed the FBR to explore ways and means for checking tax evasion and production of fake brands alongwith undocumented productions of tobacco products in factories mostly located in FATA and other areas. The Convener of the Sub-Committee stated that the body would finalize its recommendations after holding yet another meeting with the stakeholder.