Farmers protest in Islamabad for fulfillment of demands

Farmers, led by the Kisan Ittihad (Farmer’s union), are protesting against the high cost of electricity and fertilisers as they staged a sit-in at the federal capital after crossing multiple barriers and obstacles that were placed to block the protest. 

The protestors have threatened to march on towards the D-Chowk area, where important government installations are located.

The rally had entered Islamabad via Grand Trunk road on Wednesday and staged a sit-in at Blue Area – the city’s central business hub merely a few kilometres away from the Red Zone.

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Despite several attempts by the administration, negotiations have not yet been possible with the protestors.

It may also be noted that the administration had also proposed an alternate venue for the sit-in, however, the protestors ignored the government's proposition.

The farmers are demanding that the additional taxes included in electricity bills should be removed immediately and action should be taken against those selling fertiliser in the black market.

Lest their demands are met, the protestors vow to march toward the Red Zone and continue the sit-in.

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The farmer’s protest poses a fresh challenge to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government that already has a mammoth task of tackling a fragile economy and widespread flood-devastation on its hands.

Pakistan's new finance minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday he will work to rein in inflation while cutting interest rates, saying the rupee was undervalued and promising a strong response to the South Asian nation's worst economic crisis.

In his fourth time on the job, the chartered accountant is facing a balance of payment crisis, foreign reserves that cover barely a month's imports, historic lows in the rupee, inflation exceeding 27% and the aftermath of devastating floods.

Furthermore, high electricity bills coupled with the heavy burden of Fuel Adjustment Charges (FCA) and other taxes have raised input costs, making it unaffordable for consumers.