Hailstorm damages crops in Swabi.

SWABI -- A hailstorm badly damaged tobacco, sugarcane and vegetable crops in various areas of Swabi district here on Saturday night.

The hailstorm continued for about two hours, damaging the Virginia tobacco crop, which was at critical stage of curing.

The growers said the hail and thunderstorm caused extensive damage to their crop. The most-affected areas were Kalabat and Khazana, some areas of Panjpir, Asota, Shewa and Kalu Khan.

Central president of Tobacco Growers Association Pakistan Liaqat Yousafzai said both the federal and provincial governments should provide financial assistance to the poor growers because their financial position had further weakened due to hailstones. 'In this hour of need, tobacco...