Nawaz steps in to address wheat crisis

Presides over high-level meeting to aid govt in finding ‘farmer-friendly solution’

LAHORE:

As the wheat procurement crisis plagues Punjab and drives farmers to protest, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif on Friday stepped forward to address the escalating situation.

According to a well-placed party source, who is also part of the provincial cabinet, Nawaz presided over a high-level meeting which also decided to request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to join discussions at the next session to brief the party on the issue.

Read FPCCI urges govt action on wheat prices

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also participated in the meeting where the resolution of the crisis and the formulation of the Kissan Package were decided upon.

A party source, speaking strictly on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the Punjab government was diligently addressing the wheat procurement crisis. However, he pointed out that the task was complicated by fiscal constraints and that the matter was not as simple as many in the media have led the public to believe.

The source stressed that recognising the sensitivity of the matter, the party's highest leadership has also formally intervened to weigh in on the matter and aid the government in finding a farmer-friendly solution. He assured that the party and its government will not abandon their farmers, urging people to take comfort in that assurance.

He stated that the government was crafting a ‘Kissan Package’ to relieve the financial burden on the farmers.

Elaborating further, he mentioned that this would be a multifaceted package incorporating substantial subsidies.

However, he clarified that as the chief minister would personally announce the details in the coming days, he could not divulge any specifics at this time.

He further disclosed that for the upcoming meeting, the party's supreme leader has requested PM Shehbaz Sharif to brief the party on the origins of this crisis and the government's efforts to tackle it at the central level.

When asked if Punjab was seeking assistance from the central government in this matter, the source stated that he was not aware of any such plan.

The meeting reportedly was attended by senior party leaders including former CM Punjab Hamza Shehbaz and advisor to PM Rana Sanaullah.

When questioned about the absence of an official press release regarding the meeting, the source claimed to be unaware of the reason behind keeping the meeting undisclosed. However, he did note that previous meetings chaired by Nawaz Sharif had faced criticism in the media.

When questioned about PML-N's seemingly contradictory stance of criticising PTI for its anti-establishment rhetoric and questioning the legitimacy of the 2024 elections, while simultaneously attempting to reconcile with JUI-F for making similar allegations, the source responded that PML-N cannot afford to engage in conflicts on all fronts at the same.

He stated that the party's strategy aimed to prevent the unity of all opposition forces, hence extending an olive branch to former ally JUI-F while criticising our archenemy PTI. He referred to this approach as a "divide and rule" policy.

When questioned whether this was a PML-N strategy to keep its options open, potentially enabling it to play the victim card if relations sour with Rawalpindi, the source stated that he was not in a position to answer the question.

It's pertinent to note that the PML-N government, both in Punjab and at the centre, faced severe criticism for forming committees instead of taking immediate action on pressing issues. This delay, especially regarding the concerns of provincial farmers, posed a significant risk for a party that draws much of its support from the heartland of the province.

For the Punjab government, this was an even more serious matter, as it had thus far focused all its efforts on creating positive optics for CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz.

With the media and social media scrutiny amplifying the farmers' plight, the issue had become a potential Achilles' heel, capable of shattering the carefully crafted facade around CM Punjab.