Pakistan is on the brink of an agricultural crisis, with farmers struggling to make ends meet due to the skyrocketing costs of production and the government’s failure to provide adequate support. The Pakistan Farmers’ Union, led by Khalid Khokhar, has issued a dire warning, calling for the government to declare a state of emergency and intervene to avert a complete collapse of the agricultural sector.
In a press conference held at the Multan Press Club, Khokhar revealed that farmers are being forced to sell their produce at a loss, with a 120-kg sack of potatoes being sold for as little as Rs. 1,800, instead of the expected Rs. 8,000. He also demanded that the government purchase potatoes from farmers and export them to other countries, thereby providing a much-needed boost to the economy.
Khokhar further stated that farmers are being forced to protest due to the government’s inaction, and that the scheduled protests on January 5 have been postponed to January 26 on the government’s request. The union has also demanded that the government fix the prices of crops, including wheat, at Rs. 4,000 per 40 kg, and provide electricity to farmers at the rate of Rs. 15 per unit.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has offered to hold talks with the farmers’ union, stating that he is willing to make concessions to resolve the crisis. However, the union remains skeptical, citing the government’s past failures to address the issues faced by farmers.
The agricultural crisis is not the only challenge facing the country, with various parts of Pakistan experiencing heavy fog, leading to the closure of several highways. In a separate incident, a 16-grade official of the Federal Board of Revenue was demoted to the 14th grade after being accused of removing CCTV footage and smoking in the office.
In a bizarre incident, a woman and her child were kidnapped from a private university in Lahore, where a student had taken his own life just two weeks ago. The woman’s mother was lured to the hospital under the pretext of getting her son treated, only to have him kidnapped by the suspects.
In other news, the Pakistani government has approved a new policy to curb anti-state rhetoric, with officials saying that those who engage in such behavior will face severe action, including the revocation of their honorary titles.
