The Faisalabad divisional administration has imposed a complete ban on the unregulated sale and purchase of Aluminium Phosphide, commonly known as wheat tablets, across the four districts of Faisalabad Division in an effort to prevent their misuse in suicide attempts.
A notification issued by the divisional administration said the restrictions will apply in Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Chiniot with immediate effect.
Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh said Aluminium Phosphide tablets, widely used for preserving wheat, are highly toxic pesticides that pose a serious threat to human life if misused.
He said research conducted by experts at Faisalabad Medical University found that individuals suffering from mental distress had been purchasing the tablets from medical stores, pesticide outlets and grocery shops to attempt suicide.
Once ingested, the tablets can prove fatal within two to three hours, while there is currently no effective antidote, resulting in an extremely high mortality rate.
The commissioner said the sale, storage and distribution of Aluminium Phosphide must be strictly regulated to prevent misuse and ensure that the identity of purchasers can be verified.
Under the notification, issued under Section 15 of the Punjab Civil Administration Act, 2017, no individual, dealer, distributor, pesticide seller or retail outlet will be allowed to sell Aluminium Phosphide without maintaining a complete sales register.
Sellers will be required to record the purchaser’s name, Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) number, full address, contact details, quantity purchased, date of sale and the intended purpose of use before completing any transaction.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneKhawar RandhawaRead More