CM vows to protect wheat farmers’ interests

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday vowed not to allow anyone exploiting the farmers and the role of middlemen in wheat procurement.

Shahbaz, who presided over a meeting through video link to review the wheat procurement campaign, made it clear that he would personally monitor the process in every district.

He directed the officials to ensure protection of the wheat farmers’ interests at every cost through strict monitoring to eliminate the role of middlemen, adding that legal action should be initiated against the middlemen exploiting the farmers.

“Farmers are my brothers and protection of their interest has been ensured earlier and in the future as well,” he added. He said ministers, advisors, special assistants, secretaries, commissioners and DPOs would personally supervise the wheat procurement campaign.

During the meeting, a briefing was given by the Food Department officials regarding wheat procurement and other matters. The meeting was told that 37 per cent distribution of gunny bags had been completed among the farmers.

Separately, the chief minister said his life was meant for the people and he would continue serving them till his last breath.

Sharing his views during a meeting with Ghulam Bibi Bharwana MNA who called on him, Shahbaz said the government has taken solid steps for improving the people’s quality of life of the people with a qualitative improvement in health, education and other social sectors in Punjab.

On the other hand, he pointed out, nothing had been done to solve their problems in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that it was the reason the people of those provinces had been fed up with their rulers.