Dera Ghazi Khan Declares Emergency Over Toxic “Wheat Pill” Suicides
Key Developments:
Alarming Suicide Trend – 215 cases of wheat-pill poisoning treated at DG Khan’s Trauma Centre in one year, with 55 deaths.
Recent Spike – 81 new cases in the last four months alone, as wheat harvest season began.
Shift in Poisoning Methods – After banning toxic “black stone,” suicides shifted to insecticide-laced wheat pills, creating a new crisis.
Administrative Crackdown:
Section 144 Imposed – 1-month ban on possession, sale, and purchase of wheat pills & black stone.
Market Raids Underway – Authorities seizing stockpiles of toxic substances.
Health Officials Sound Alarm – Hospitals report surge in young patients intentionally ingesting poison.
Root Causes & Demands for Action:
Easy Access to Toxins – Pills meant for grain preservation are being misused.
Traders & Officials Push for Regulation – Call for stricter controls or outright ban on deadly pesticides.
A Preventable Tragedy Requires Urgent Measures
DG Khan faces a growing suicide epidemic fueled by unregulated toxic substances. While the immediate ban is crucial, long-term solutions—better mental health support, stricter pesticide controls, and public awareness—are needed to save lives.
The clock is ticking—will enforcement and policy changes be enough to stop the next wave of deaths?
