The Kissan Ittehad and the Sindh Abadgar Alliance have announced a protest movement across Punjab starting from August 11 due to the government's "failure" to fix the official wheat support price.
"On August 11, a symbolic funeral for agriculture will be held outside the DC office in Kasur, and a protest will be held outside the Hyderabad Press Club on August 20," Kissan Ittehad Chairman Khalid Hussain Batth said on Saturday at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.
Sindh Abadgar Alliance President Zubair Talpur was also present on the occasion.
Batth said protests would take place across all provinces, followed by a march toward Islamabad. "This time, we will protest before the wheat cultivation season begins," he said, clarifying that this movement has no affiliation with any political party.
He added that over the past two years, the cost of wheat cultivation has been Rs4,000 per 40kg, while the government purchased wheat from them at only Rs2,200.
"We are ready for a forensic audit," he said. "The government demands up to 45% in taxes but how can we pay taxes when we are not even making a profit?"
He said if the government does not set a wheat support price before sowing begins, they will initiate talks with the prime minister and chief ministers. If there is still no decision, province-wide protests will be launched in Punjab on August 11 and in Sindh on August 20.
"The government has failed to fix wheat prices for the last two years," he noted.
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