BY: ANI Correspondent:
FAISALABAD: Commissioner Faisalabad Division Imran Hamid Sheikh has imposed strict regulations on the sale, purchase, storage and distribution of Aluminum Phosphide, commonly known as Wheat Pills, across the division in an effort to curb its misuse in suicide cases and protect public safety.
According to an official order issued by the Commissioner’s Office, the decision was taken following recommendations and empirical evidence presented by Vice Chancellor of Faisalabad Medical University, Prof. Dr. Zafar Ali Chaudhry. The report revealed that mentally distressed individuals, particularly young people, have been obtaining Wheat Pills from local shops and grocery stores to commit suicide.
The report further stated that ingestion of Aluminum Phosphide usually results in death within two to three hours, and in the absence of an effective antidote, the mortality rate is nearly 100 per cent.
Exercising powers under Section 15 of the Punjab Civil Administration Act, 2017, the Commissioner directed the immediate enforcement of comprehensive measures to regulate the sale and handling of the highly toxic pesticide throughout Faisalabad Division.
Under the new directives, the unregulated sale and purchase of Wheat Pills has been completely banned. Licensed dealers and pesticide vendors will only be permitted to sell the product after maintaining a complete record of each transaction, including the purchaser’s name, CNIC number, residential address, contact number, quantity purchased, date of sale, and the intended purpose of use.
The order also requires all licensed dealers to keep their sale registers available for inspection by the District Administration, Agriculture Department, Police, Drug Control Wing and other authorised authorities. Deputy Commissioners have been directed to conduct regular inspections and ensure strict monitoring of all outlets dealing in Aluminum Phosphide within their respective districts.
Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh warned that any violation of the order will invite legal action under the relevant laws, in addition to any other penalties prescribed under applicable rules and regulations.
The District Administration, Agriculture Department, Drug Control Wing and law enforcement agencies have been instructed to work in close coordination to ensure the effective implementation of the order, which has come into force with immediate effect across Faisalabad Division.
