MULTAN: Farmers in various cities of Punjab continue to protest against the government’s failure to procure wheat, leading to widespread demonstrations and hunger strikes in many areas. The protests, sparked by the government’s inability to provide subsidies to small-scale farmers for wheat
procurement, have expanded across the entire province.
In several cities, farmers have raised slogans against the administration and accused the Punjab Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) of
favoring private traders in wheat sales.
Khalid Hussain Bhath, Chairman of the Farmers Union, emphasized that farmers are protesting vehemently due to the non-procurement of wheat. He warned that
the protests will persist until the government sets a target for wheat procurement.
“We will stage sit-ins with our livestock on crucial highways in every district,” Bhath asserted.
Furthermore, he highlighted that many protestors have been detained by the authorities, with no communication from the government regarding wheat
procurement. Bhatt reiterated that farmers will not back down until their demands are met.
“We are being forced to take to the streets in every district and city,” he stated, adding that the government is exploiting farmers economically. He demanded fair compensation for their labor and immediate measures to safeguard the agricultural sector from ruin.
A spokesperson for the Farmers Union stated that farmers have set up hunger strike camps outside the Assistant Commissioner’s office in Melsi. The presence
of law enforcement officers has escalated tensions, with farmers allegedly receiving threats and facing the prospect of FIRs (First Information Reports) being filed against them.
The protests underscore the growing discontent among farmers over the government’s handling of wheat procurement and its failure to address their grievances. As the standoff continues, the farmers remain resolute in their demands, signaling a prolonged confrontation with the authorities until a resolution is reached.
