Over wheat subsidy : Several parties announce token strike

"We want a 40kg bag to be available for Rs530" says chairman of the Progressive Youth Front.

GILGIT:

Various parties announced a token strike for Friday across Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) against the withdrawal of wheat subsidy.

The decision was made after a meeting of an Awami Action Committee at a hotel on Monday.  ASWJ, Tanzeem Haqooq Sunnah, Anjumane Imamia, Inqilabi Socialist Party, JI, JUI-F and Balawaristan National Front were some of the parties which attended the meeting.

“We want a 40kg bag to be available for Rs530,” Baba Jan, chairman of the Progressive Youth Front told The Express Tribune. He was referring to last year’s subsidised price which was gradually withdrawn; now the same bag costs Rs840. Former PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had introduced a 50% subsidy on wheat for G-B.

The assistance was upheld by successive governments until four years ago. Ehsan Ali of Awami Watan Party said after the Friday prayers, rallies would be held to press the government into accepting their demands.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2014.