Farmers stage protest against imposition of agri tax

CHARSADDA: Rejecting the provincial government’s decision to impose an agricultural tax, the members of The Kisan Board Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday staged a protest outside the press club to press the provincial government to withdraw the decision.

Addressing the protesters, the provincial president of the Kisan Board, Abdul Akbar Khan, condemned the tax as an “oppressive” measure. He said that the farmers would not accept it under any circumstances. He pointed out that farmers in the province were already facing numerous challenges and the introduction of an agricultural tax would multiply their problems, severely affecting the agriculture sector.

The farmers would stage a massive protest in front of the provincial assembly soon, he said and made it clear that the farmers would not pay the tax, and if the provincial government resorted to force to suppress their protest, they would stand firm and continue their demonstration in Peshawar despite any violence.

“We are in close contact with farmers throughout the province and will announce the protest after finalizing the preparations,” he said and urged the provincial government to immediately retract its decision to impose the agricultural tax.This growing unrest reflects the significant concerns of farmers who fear that such measures could further destabilise the already struggling agricultural sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.