KARACHI: The Pakistan Kisan Ittehad has rejected the Punjab government’s recently announced Rs15 billion farmer relief package, warning against wheat cultivation in the upcoming season.
Addressing a press conference in Multan, Kisan Ittehad President Khalid Khokhar termed the package as disappointing, saying farmers were under severe financial pressure. “The situation is very serious, some farmers may even consider suicide,” Khokhar warned.
He said the Punjab government’s package failed to meet the real needs of farmers, especially in terms of subsidy for wheat production.
“Farmers sowed wheat on Maryam Nawaz’s request, yet the Punjab Chief Minister did not even once inquire about the plight of the farming community,” he added.
Khalid Khokhar slammed the provincial leadership for ignoring the increase in production costs. He said farmers were not even able to recover their costs. If the government does not fulfill its responsibilities, we will be forced to stop food production altogether.
Khalid further highlighted the unavailability of urea last year and noted that farmers avoided buying it this year due to its high cost. “If farmers stop using essential items like fertilizers, how will we ensure crop production?” he asked.
Drawing attention to the broader agricultural and economic issues, Khokhar said that Pakistan was already importing $10-12 billion worth of agricultural products annually. “Despite losses worth trillions due to climate change, the government has not offered any support. There is a fixed price for flour, but there is no regulation for sugar. Flour comes from small farmers, while sugar is a billion-rupee industry,” he said.
Khalid Khokhar also challenged the government to reveal which farmer delegation actually met the Punjab chief minister. He alleged that the government keeps making decisions without consulting the real stakeholders.
The decision of the Kisan Ittehad to boycott wheat cultivation sends a strong message to the government and raises serious concerns about food security and the future of Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
