PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhary strongly criticized Punjab Police as they baton charged farmers in District Vehari and Okara. He said police has arrested more than 50 farmers who were protesting in Vehari and Okara against the anti-farmers policies of the PMLN Government.
He said agriculture is the country???s largest economic activity and PMLN Government is bent upon destroying it due to its anti-farming policies.
Secretary General Yasmin Rashid said Indian agricultural subsidy is well over $100bn, while all farm inputs in Pakistan are taxed heavily. She said PMLN Government with 137 items allowed duty-free import through Wagha border from India would further destroy agricultural produce. She said agriculture is the backbone of our economy and the Government needs to look into issues farmers are facing.
Information Secretary Andleeb Abbas said farmers in Pakistan are oppressed, as they cannot sell anything at competitive price due expensive prices of agriculture inputs, fertilizer and electricity. She said PMLN Government should first subsidize all these items as is done in India and then enter into duty free trade with India.
She said it has been 67 years still we have not been able to eliminate the role of middleman and demanded for an effective agriculture marketing strategy, as it is need of the hour to end plight of farmers.
She said Punjab Police has become militant wing of Shabaz Sharif who are used to pressurize anybody who dares stand against their wishes.