FIDA HUSSNAIN
The Punjab government and the farmers failed to reach consensus during much-awaited talks after which the latter announced to launch protests again from Thursday (today) across Punjab. “We have given a protest call for Thursday in all districts of Punjab,” said Pakistan KisanIttehad while reacting to the failure of the talks with the provincial authorities. The farmers said they would protest by bringing their livestock to the roads and would also place their crops on the road as a token of protest.
The leaders of Pakistan KissanIttehad said that the farmers were left at the mercy of the shopkeepers which is very unfortunate.
The sources said that the talks were held to reach agreements regarding the wheat price and delay in purchase on the part of the provincial government.
On the other hand, the price per 20-kilogram bag of flour went down by Rs800 within a few days in Lahore.
The price of a 20-kilogram bag of flour in Lahore has dropped from 2800 to 2000 rupees.
Flour Mills Association Chairman AsimRaza confirmed the decrease in price, saying that the new price of the flour bag is Rs2000. Due to the decrease in the price of wheat, flour became cheaper. Flour mill owners were purchasing wheat from the farmers.
He stated that they took a stand with the farmers.“The inter-provincial ban by the government should be completely lifted, and other provinces should purchase wheat to save Punjab’s farmers from losses,” he added. The sources within the Punjab Food department said that a process to support the small farmers through the farmers’ Card would be initiated within the next few days. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz made an announcement for the farmers that her government would provide cards and financial assistance to them.
The sources close to the development said that the CM approved the launch of the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Kissan Card. The meeting reviewed the proposal to provide direct cash subsidy to small wheat growers.
“All-out resources are available for farmers in Punjab,” said the sources while quoting the chief minister.
It may be mentioned here that the farmers had taken to the streets against an inordinate delay in the purchase of grain and the decision to reduce the provincial procurement quota from over 4 million tonnes to 2.3m tonnes.
