Peshawar – Pakistan (HRNW)– The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has begun deliberations on a proposal to legalize hemp (bhang) cultivation under a regulated licensing system. The plan includes imposing excise duties and issuing formal cultivation licenses to control production and ensure proper monitoring.
A high-level meeting chaired by Director General Excise Abdul Haleem Khan reviewed multiple policy options for legal hemp farming. Members of the subcommittee discussed taxation, licensing fees, and time limits for authorized growers.
During the session, participants agreed to set the license fee for medicinal hemp cultivation at Rs. 600,000 per five acres of land. The committee further proposed that excise duty be imposed on hemp processing and final production, ensuring the crop’s use remains limited to medical and industrial purposes within a legal framework.
The move marks a significant step toward introducing regulated hemp agriculture in Pakistan, aimed at boosting the provincial economy while curbing illegal cultivation.
