The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad has announced that it will begin protests against the wheat crisis in Multan on May 10.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, PKI Chairman Khalid Khokhar accused the ‘mafia’ of making money by smuggling wheat, stating that the entire system supports wheat smugglers. He claimed that Pakistan has 4.4 million tons of wheat available, but decisions regarding wheat were made in bad faith.
Khokhar further stated that despite the availability of 4.4 million metric tons of wheat, wheat was imported, resulting in the outflow of one billion dollars in foreign exchange. He alleged that the mafia did this to benefit the private sector.
Khokhar also said that farmers have suffered losses of 400 billion rupees due to low prices, while the government has lost 150 billion rupees due to farmers not selling their wheat. He claimed that the mafia first smuggles wheat and then imports it.
He emphasized that farmers do not take their money abroad, and that without money, they will not be able to cultivate cotton and rice. He stated that farmers are currently facing immense difficulties, working 24 hours a day but receiving nothing in return. He added that farmers cannot describe the pain they are currently experiencing and have repeatedly called for the formation of an independent agriculture commission.
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Khokhar said that if wheat farmers do not have decision-making power, how will they invest in future crops? He stated that farmers have bought everything in the black market, and that those in power are not making the right decisions.
The PKI Chairman also claimed that farmers have paid more than 150 billion rupees for urea, which is still being sold in the black market. He called the wheat crisis the biggest problem in Pakistan and the wheat import the biggest scandal.
Khokhar demanded strict punishment for those involved in wheat imports, stating that they have sacrificed the entire camel for their own piece of meat. He accused them of sacrificing 60 million farmers for the sake of corruption, knowing that a bumper wheat crop was coming in December. He added that farmers in Punjab are not getting enough sleep and are spending their nights crying.
Khokhar concluded by saying that those involved in wheat imports should be hanged.
The PKI has announced protests across the country, stating that they will hold symbolic funeral prayers for agriculture and spread their protests throughout the country. They claim that they have no option but to protest, as they are not being heard by the government.
