Farmers’ group vows march on Lahore

Leaders call for agricultural emergency in province

MULTAN:

Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) has declared plans to organise a march from Multan to Lahore on May 10 to voice their concerns and protest against the wheat issue.

During a press conference held here on Sunday, Chairman Pakistan Kissan Ittehad Khalid Khokhar announced that thousands of peasants would participate in the march.

He mentioned that farmers, along with their families, tractor-trollies and animals, would join the protest, which will persist until the imposition of agricultural emergency in the province.

Highlighting the demands for agricultural emergency, Khokhar emphasised the immediate commencement of wheat procurement, reduced electricity tariffs and a decrease in urea fertiliser prices by the government.

Addressing the wheat crisis, he alleged corrupt practices behind the decision to import wheat, stating that such a move was unnecessary given the ample wheat stock within the country.

He called for stringent punishment for those implicated in the scandal.

Khokhar expressed the farmers' distress over the inability to procure wheat, which is affecting their capacity to sow essential crops like cotton and rice.

He underscored the significance of agriculture in Pakistan's economy, noting that agricultural exports contribute substantially to the country's revenue.

Concerned about the neglect of the agriculture sector, Khokhar criticised the minimal allocation of funds to agriculture, which stands at only 0.8% of the total GDP.

He questioned the country's prospects for progress with such meager investment in agriculture.

While lamenting the lack of recognition for farmers in society, Khokhar called upon the civil society members to support the farmers' protest.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2024.