‘No agri policy without farmers consent’
Punjab Minister for Law and Social Welfare Basharat Raja has said farmers would be taken into confidence before making important decisions and their recommendations would also be included in Punjab's agricultural policy.
He expressed these views while talking to the representatives of Kisan Board Pakistan at DC Office on Thursday. Agriculture Secretary Waqas Mahmood Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Mudassar Riaz were also present on the occasion.
The Kisan Board postponed the decision to protest on the assurance of approval of the demands. Raja further said Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar was himself a farmer, who does understand the problems of his farmers better than any other.
"Our government is taking concrete steps to address the real problems of farmers," he said. Farmers should trust the government and not create problems for the people through protests. He assured the farmers that all their problems would be resolved on a priority basis.
Kisan Board president and other representatives voiced hope that the issued would be resolved soon.
Later, the provincial law minister offered condolence at the death of a farmer leader Malik Ashfaq Langarial and directed the authorities to form a medical board to find out the cause of death.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2020.