Growers for ban on import of Indian produce

LAHORE: Another faction of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad and other farmer organisations Monday launched a protest drive by holding a demonstration outside the Punjab Assembly building on the Mall to raise their demands.

Kissan Ittehad’s members demanded the government impose ban on import of highly subsidised agricultural produce from India. The government otherwise give subsidy to us if it really wanted us to compete them, they added. They also stressed for withdrawal of sales tax on fertilisers and reducing power tariff for tube wells. Farmers also asked the government to provide jute bags to them for selling their wheat to government agencies. They underlined the need to reduce price of inputs, especially fertilisers. They lamented that their produces were being bought at throwaway price. Farmers also threw potatoes and tomatoes on the road in protest. Owing to protesting farmers, there was huge rush on roads, causing immense inconvenience for the commuters.