Sharply reacting to the fresh hike in petroleum prices especially of diesel, Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) has convened a meeting of stakeholders on Friday to prepare a counter strategy against anti-growers policies of the government and organising a 'Kisan Rally' towards Islamabad.
FAP President Dr Tariq Bucha disclosed this while talking to Business Recorder here on Wednesday. He said all the stakeholders representing the farming sector will participate in this meeting. He said fresh hike in the diesel prices has put an extra burden of Rs 18 billion on agricultural sector.
He said diesel is used only for transportation in urban areas while its utility in rural areas is many folds. It is used for irrigation and running tractors and agricultural machinery. He said over 4 billion liters of diesel is used by the growers annually.
Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) Central President Sardar Zafar Hussein and General Secretary Malik Muhammad Ramzan Rohari reacting to the increase in petrol and diesel prices termed it a cruel step of the government. They said that after hitting agriculturists hard by increase electricity and gas prices, now the government had stabbed in the back of growers by enhancing diesel prices.
They made it clear on the farmers that the rulers would completely destroy the agricultural economy if they did not come on roads like Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. KBP leaders announced contact local growers' leaders in every district to launch a countrywide protest against hike in petroleum prices.
Agri Forum Pakistan in its reaction urged the government to import oil from Iran and export rice and kinnow under barter system to save the precious foreign exchange as well as providing cheaper fuel to the Pakistani consumers. Chairman of Agri Forum Pakistan, Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal, in a statement said Pakistan would be able to deliver diesel at the rate of Rs 75 per liter instead of present rate of Rs 104 per liter. It would cut the cost of doing business by the transport, factories and agricultural sectors, he claimed.
Comments
Comments are closed.