Opp criticises agriculture policy

LAHORE

Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmood-ul-Rasheed, while flaying the PML-N government over its alleged anti-farmers policies, said Monday  the Orange Line Train Project was being launched at the cost of agriculture sector. 

“The development funds of agriculture, health and other sectors are being used for Orange Line Train Project. The government is going to every extent to damage growers and continuing its anti-farmers policies,” said Mian Mehmood while speaking at the Punjab Assembly during a debate on agriculture. MPAs including Ch Muhammad Iqbal, Kazim Pirzada, Karam Elahi Bandial, Saadia Sohail Rana, Sardar Shahab-ud-Din, Mian Muhammad Rafique and others participated in the debate related with agriculture sector and gave suggestions for its improvement.

Speaking on the occasion, Mian Mehmood-ul-Rasheed stated that rather than providing relief to the nation, the government was receiving extortion of Rs 40 for per litre petrol and the way it was treating the  agriculture sector, the mainstay of our economy was regretful, he added.  He said the poor farmers were facing economic massacre at the hands of the government which was bent upon adding to their woes. He stated the agri products like rice and wheat were not sold as per their support prices and it was awful that the farmers of a country whose 70pc population was attached with agri sector were being treated in such a way.

Karam Elahi Bandial, the PML-N legislator from Khushab, in his speech drew the attention of the House towards the issue of salinity and water logging in his district which was destroying cultivable land. He stated that previously the Punjab government was giving subsidy on electricity but it did not continue later. He appealed to the government to grant subsidy on electricity to facilitate the growers.

Bandial called for legislation and all required measures related with the sale, purchase and quality of the pesticides in Punjab.

Mian Muhammad Rafique, the PML-N MPA from Toba Tek Singh, in his speech stated that it wasn’t fair to hold the sitting government solely responsible for the current situation of the agri sector. He stated that all the previous governments, civil or military, were responsible for ‘farmers’ tragedy’ and urged the government to take all required measures to facilitate farmers. 

Kazim Pirzada, a ruling party MPA from district Bahawalpur, during his speech said that the situation of agri sector could be improved while taking measures such as water management and controlling the rates of inputs related with agri products.

He stated wheat procurement issue needs attention and all efforts must be made to save farmers from facing any financial loss.

Saadia Sohail Rana, PTI MPA, during her speech said that it was really a matter of concern that despite being a country relying on agriculture, the sector was being ignored constantly.

She said sugarcane growers’ exploitation in the hands of mill owners wasn’t hidden from anyone but unfortunately effective measures were not taken to curb this issue. She said 4.5million acres of land was cultivable in Southern Punjab and the government must not ignore it. She said Punjab was the ‘food basket’ of Pakistan and to ensure a prosperous Pakistan, we must facilitate our growers, she added. 

Sardar Shahab-ud-Din of PPP voiced concern over the loss faced by growers due to the government policies and demanded all out efforts to address the challenges faced by farmers.