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ISLAMABAD: A large number of farmers led by Kissan Ittehad Pakistan (KIP) on Wednesday staged a sit-in, demanding from the government to reduce fertilizers prices including urea and DAP as well as provide electricity to farmers at the rate of Rs5.35 per unit.
Farmers led by Kissan Ittehad had to stage a sit-in at Blue Area in Islamabad after the authorities barred them from protesting before the Parliament House.
Following the removal of the containers and other obstacles placed by the capital police to block the protesting farmers at the entrance to the capital city, the farmers under the leadership of KIP Chairman Khalid Hussain reached Islamabad.
کسانوں کی بڑی تعداد اسلام آباد میں داخل…
میڈیا چینلَ پر بالکل نہیں دکھایا جا رہا pic.twitter.com/gWY1cKgGPL— Haqeeqat TV (@Haqeeqat_TV) September 28, 2022
Farmers had previously stated that they would protest in D-Chowk, but following discussions with the district administration, they staged a sit-in in Blue Area and refused to leave for F-9 Park. They believed that they would continue to protest until their demands were met.
Since the government increased the price of electricity to Rs36 per unit, the protesting farmers have called for a reduction in the power tariff. They demanded that electricity be provided for them at a cost of Rs. 5.35 per unit. In addition, the demonstrators want diesel and fertilizer subsidies, as well as the elimination of taxes on tractors and agricultural equipment.
Farmers’ rally removed containers obstacles from T Chowk, entered Islamabad.Govt has sealed the Red Zone in view of protests by the Kisan Ittehad.The protesters have also demanded subsidies on fertilizers & diesel,while taxes on agricultural machinery&tractors should be abolished pic.twitter.com/mLWiLaT5BY
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) September 28, 2022
The protesters demanded that the minimum support price (MSP) be set at Rs4,000 for every 40kg. They requested the government to lower the cost of insecticides as well. They claimed that in order to stop the black tagging of fertilizers, the government must take decisive action. Farmers argued that low-interest loans should be made available to them.
They said that agriculture is no longer sustainable as a result of the unconscionable price increases for electricity, fertilizer, and other agricultural inputs. If the government ignores the rising cost of inputs and electricity, major crops like wheat, sugarcane, rice, and cotton would produce less and less.
Last week, farmers in Islamabad protested at F-9 Park against rising electricity prices and inflation, threatening to march to D-Chowk if their demands weren’t met.
They claimed that the government must make up for the harm that the recent rains inflicted. The protesters vowed to keep up the demonstration until their demands were met.
