Protest: Farmers demand relief for losses suffered during heavy rains

MULTAN: Scores of farmers blocked Khanewal Road on Wednesday to protest against the government for not providing farmers relief in the wake of heavy rains in south Punjab.

Traffic at the entrance of the city was blocked for several hours as the protesters burned tyres on the road. They carried banners and placards and shouted slogans against the government.

Muhammad Hafeez, one of the protesters, said hundreds of acres of wheat and maize crops had been affected because of the recent rains and hail in south Punjab. He said mango orchards had also been damaged because of the rain.

The Kissan Package was mere eyewash for farmers, Faheem Subhan, another protester, said. “The government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has left the farmers impoverished and worse off.”

He said most of the farmers in south Punjab depended on the mango and wheat crops for their livelihood.

Both crops have been damaged because of torrential rains and hailstorm last week, he said. The farmers said that the government had not paid heed to their problems and had taken no steps for their welfare. “There has been no word on how the government is planning to help us overcome the loss incurred from the rains,” Khadim Hussain, one of the protesting farmers, said. “Minister for Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan’s constituency is among the worst-hit,” he said.

“He has been mum on the issue despite the hue and cry raised by farmers.” The protesters demanded that government compensate farmers for the loss incurred from the natural disasters.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2016.