LAHORE: After holding a meeting with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the agitating farmers decided to end their protest late on Saturday night, but warned they would return in a fortnight if the promises made to them are not materialised.
Talking to Dawn, Khalid Khokhar, leader of the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad, said Shahbaz Sharif promised to bring Ishaq Dar in the meeting to be held on Friday next and pledged the federal government would announce support price of paddy and cotton.
He also promised that Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) would be made to procure cotton and Passco would be involved in a paddy purchase drive, as demanded by the farmers.
In addition to the federal subsidy of Rs15 billion on fertilisers, the provincial government would also contribute Rs20 billion to make the vital input cheaper, Khokhar said. On top of it all, he said, the CM also directed the chief secretary to ensure all dues sugar mills owed to farmers were cleared immediately. He also directed the inspector general of police to withdraw cases against the farmers lodged for protesting for their rights.
“We are going back, but with a warning that we would return within two weeks if all these promises are not fulfilled,” he said.
The farmers want official notifications to this effect, not simple promises, he stressed.
Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2015
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