LAHORE: PPP central Punjab leader Syed Hasan Murtaza has asked the PML-N to consult his party on all major decisions in the province.

“PPP is only sharing the burden with the PML-N in Punjab. If decisions are made unilaterally, the burden will also have to be borne alone. We demand that the PPP should be taken into confidence in Punjab’s governance matters,” Murtaza told a presser after the party’s executive meeting here on Thursday.

Accompanied by Rana Farooq Saeed, Shehzad Saeed Cheema, Usman Malik, Faisal Mir and Aslam Gill, Mr Murtaza expressed concern over the Punjab government’s agricultural policies.

He warned the province’s food security was at risk as farmers faced a host of challenges, including agricultural taxes, water charges, super taxes and livestock levies.

“Where does our cotton farmer stand today?” he asked.

“Pakistan, once an exporter of cotton, is now importing it,” he said. He condemned labeling farmers as a mafia.

The PPP leader highlighted the exploitation farmers face when acquiring essential supplies like fertiliser and seeds, while questioning why the government was squeezing them further under the guise of super taxes.

“How much money has the Agriculture Department allocated for research?” he inquired, criticising policymakers for being disconnected from the plight of farmers struggling to make ends meet.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2024