More than 3,000 farmers in southern Punjab protested against the Multan Electric and Power Company (Mepco) on Wednesday accusing its management of destroying the agriculture sector through prolonged loadshedding.
The protesters gathered outside the Mepco office and blocked the road for more than five hours. They raised slogans against Mepco and the federal government for imposing additional charges to the monthly electricity bills of the farmers and not providing them subsidy.
The protest was led by Chaudhry Anwar Ali, president of the Punjab Kissan Union.
He said there was no check on overbilling.
He said they had been told that the metres in the area will be disconnected if they did not pay the inflated bills. He said more than 800 farmers had been sent bills for as much as Rs100,000 as ‘general adjustment’.
“Farmers should be given exemption from fuel price adjustment taxes,” he said.
The protesters said they would vandalise Mepco offices and surround the National Assembly (NA) if their demands were not met in 15 days.
They said more than 200,000 peasants will be part of these demonstrations.
The protesters dispersed after Mepco Chief Executive Guftar Ahmed assured them of taking notice of the matter.
He asked them to give him 10 days to look into it. He also told them that their electricity connections will not be severed and that they may be provided some relief once approved by the authorities.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2012.
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