Wheat Pills Banned After Rise in Suicide Cases

Dera Ghazi Khan authorities have enacted a one-month ban on toxic “wheat pills” under Section 144 to combat a disturbing rise in suicides.

The district’s Trauma Centre reported 215 cases of wheat-pill poisoning in 2024, with 55 fatalities, and 81 additional cases in the past four months during the wheat harvest. Rural health centres have noted even higher numbers, signaling a growing public health crisis.

These aluminum phosphide tablets, used to preserve grain, have become a popular method for self-harm, replacing the previously banned “black stone” poison.

The ban, ordered by Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry, prohibits the possession, purchase, and sale of both wheat pills and black stone, following a hospital report warning of increased cases among youth.

Local traders and officials, including Sheikh Muhammad Naqeeb, pushed for the action during a District Coordination Committee meeting. Police are now tasked with seizing stockpiles from markets.

However, the measure fails to tackle the underlying issues of poverty—51% of DG Khan lives below the poverty line—and the absence of mental health support, leaving many to question its long-term impact. Without addressing these root causes, the district’s youth remain vulnerable to this ongoing tragedy.