Farmers ended their protest in Islamabad after negotiations with interior minister

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will meet with the leaders of Kissan Ittehad on 28th September

The representatives of protesting farmers in Islamabad announced to end the protest and sit-in in Islamabad after successful negotiations with interior minister Rana Sanaullah. This announcement came after the Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday ensured Kissan Ittehad leaders to arrange their meeting with the Prime Minister for addressing their issues.

According to the Interior Ministry spokesperson, the negotiations between representatives of Kissan Ittehad and Rana Sana Ullah took place at Minister’s Official Residence. The negotiations were successful and the leaders committed to call off their protest on the condition that their meeting with Prime Minister will be arranged on his return.

A large number of farmers staged a protest against the rise in electricity tariffs and inflation and vowed to move to march towards the restricted Red Zone if their demands were not fulfilled.

The protests have called by Pakistan Kissan Ittehad as thousands of farmers gathered in F-9 Park of Islamabad. They threatened to march towards D-Chowk after their demands were not fulfilled but were stopped at Mehran Gate of the park.

The Kissan Ittehad leaders are demanding the reduction in the power tariff.  They said the power tariff during PTI’s era was around Rs. 8.45 per unit but the present government has increased it to Rs 15.57 per unit. They said due to the high cost of electricity, it became difficult for farmers to irrigate their crops and pay electricity bills.

They also pointed out that the prices of urea fertilizer have increased from Rs. 1750 per sack to Rs. 2750 per sack. They said due to the incompetence of the administration, black marketing of fertilizer has surged prices to Rs. 3,000 per bag.

They further said that DAP fertilizer is out of reach of the farmer and the price per bag is hovering around Rs 13,000. They expressed concern that if the present government does not subsidize fertilizer prices, it will be difficult to grow the wheat crop.

The protesting farmers are also demanding compensation for the damage caused by the recent rains. They urged the government to reduce the power tariff, provide subsidies on fertilizers and diesel, and abolish taxes on agricultural machinery and tractors.

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