New agriculture tax termed anti-farmers

MARDAN: Opposing the newly-imposed agriculture tax by the provincial government, City Mayor Himayatullah Mayar on Thursday termed it an anti-farmer step that unfairly burdened landlords and cultivators.

Speaking at a press conference at the Mardan Press Club, he demanded the immediate withdrawal of the tax, warning of severe consequences for the agricultural sector.Flanked by Anjumn-e-Ittehad Kashtkaran spokesperson Liaqat Khan and APCA Central Secretary General Aurangzeb Kashmiri, the mayor criticised the Agriculture Tax Act 2025, which, he said, raised the tax rate from 6 percent to 45 percent. He argued that this drastic hike would push farmers further into financial distress, forcing many to sell their lands for township projects, ultimately reducing agricultural production.

Liaqat Khan said that while farmers in Punjab received interest-free loans and modern agricultural facilities, those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were being neglected. He said the closure of several mills in Mardan, Charsadda and other districts had created an economic crisis in the region.

“The new tax is being implemented under pressure from the IMF,” he claimed, adding that such measures would prove disastrous for the country’s economy and agriculture. He also claimed that neighbouring countries do not impose similar taxes on their agricultural sectors.

Warning of strong resistance, Liaqat Khan announced that if the government does not withdraw the Agriculture Tax Act 2025, farmers will launch protests across the province. In the next phase, they plan to stage a sit-in outside the provincial assembly to press for their demands.