Our Correspondent
Peshawar: A meeting regarding Promotion of Tobacco and Remodeling/Modernization of Tobacco Barns was held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Abdul Karim Tordher, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Industries / Focal Person to Chief Minister for Investment at the Department of Mechatronics Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Hayatabad Peshawar on 10th March, 2022.
Various stakeholders and experts from different organizations including Pakistan Tobacco Board, Bank of Khyber, Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Planning & Development Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment & Trade, SMEDA and Agriculture University attended the meeting. The participants deliberated and agreed upon encouraging and supporting adoption of best practices, modernization/automation of processes for barn/tobacco curing, use of cost effective and environmental friendly alternative sources of energy.
A detailed presentation was given by the Department of Mechatronics Engineering about viable models and technologies that can benefit the sector in general and uplift the farmers in particular. The Bank of Khyber, Pakistan Tobacco Board, Planning and Development Department KP, and SMEDA will extend maximum facilitation in the implementation of technological interventions discussed. Private sector will be encouraged to undertake the interventions and academia will focus on R&D and the identification of most feasible technologies and interventions.
The ultimate objective is to extend benefits to the grass root level particularly farmers and to reduce emission of greenhouse gases due to the uncontrolled burning of firewood in the existing practices. This will also help achieve the crucial Sustainable Development Goals such as No Poverty (Goal No 1.), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal No. 9) and Climate Action (Goal No. 13)
