Pakistan Muttahida Kisan Mahaz (PMKM) has announced to convene an All Parties Wahgha Conference to highlight the Indian water aggression against Pakistan, the government's failure in resolving prevailing power crisis and delay in setting up hydel and Thar coal power projects.
Urging the federal government to distribute Rs 2 billion among the provinces in the budget 2012-13 according to their population size and share in total agricultural production, the farmers' front said that the move would ensure cultivators' prosperity and boost agriculture growth.
PMKM made this announcement in the joint communiqué issued after a rally and public meeting arranged by the organisation from the Regal Chowk to the Alhamra Hall here on Tuesday. The rally, led by chief of the organisation Ayub Khan Mayo, was participated by a large number of growers from across the country.
The front's chief also announced to stage a sit-in in front of the National Assembly/Parliament House when the federal budget would be presented to press the government for acceptance of their demands. PMKM leaders said that no crisis could damage Pakistan provided it maintained self-reliance in agricultural production and food items.
Condemning the government's steps that resulted in 120 percent increase in the cost of agricultural inputs during its tenure, he urged the government to restore subsidies on electricity, diesel, fertiliser and other agricultural inputs. He said that a mechanism should be evolved for directly supply them to growers. A communiqué was issued at the end of the meeting.
Condemning the alleged the bid to abolish federal ministry of agriculture and food, the statement said that abolishing this ministry and inaction on Kalabagh dam project was aimed at destroying the national economy. It said that growers also condemned the government inaction against Indian water aggression, adding that New Delhi was violating the 1960 Indus Basin Water Treaty and constructing dams on Chenab, Jhelum and Sindh rivers.
Growers also condemned the delay in setting up hydroelectric power projects in the country and absence of a Chamber of Agriculture anywhere in the country, especially in Punjab. They observed that such a chamber was necessary to allow farmers to raise their voices for their rights, adding that it was also vital for having control over prices of agricultural produce.
Speakers at the rally also warned that if the government failed to stop India from its water aggression, they would launch an organise a 'Kisan March', which would continue till the government toppled in Islamabad. Participants included Shahzad Shafi, Imtiaz Hussain, Malik Saleem Mattoo, Iqbal Awan, Sardar Mohsin Satti, Chaudhry Muhammad Israel, Chaudhry Tahir Razzak, Malik Tassawar Awan, Chaudhry Akhtar Ali, Akmal Fatiana and Mirza Jameel.