Karachi:
Kissan Intehad and Sindh Abadgar Alliance have announced a protest movement across Punjab, starting from August 11 due to the government’s “failure” to set the official wheat support award.
“On August 11, a symbolic burial will be held for agriculture outside the DC office in Kasur, and a protest will be held outside Hyderabad Press Club on August 20,” said Kissan Ittehad chairman Khalid Hussain Batth on a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Saturday.
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 against Islamabad. “This time we will protest before the wheat culture season begins,” he said, clarifying that this movement is not affiliated with any political party.
He added that the cost of wheat cultivation over the past two years has been RS4,000 per year. 40 kg, while the government bought wheat from them to only RS2.200.
“We are ready for a forensic audit,” he said. “The government requires up to 45% in taxes, but how can we pay tax when we don’t even make profits?”
He said that if the government does not set a wheat support award before sowing begins, they will initiate conversations with the prime minister and the chief ministers. If there is still no decision, the province’s protests will be launched in Punjab on August 11 and in Sindh on August 20th.
“The government has failed to solve wheat prices for the past two years,” he noted.
