DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The local farmers’ association has rejected the agricultural income tax imposed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government under the ‘directives’ of the International Monetary Fund, and threatened to launch a protest movement if the levy wasn’t withdrawn.

This came during a meeting of the association held here on Wednesday.

MPAs Maulana Lutfur Rehman and Ehsanullah Miankhel were also present.

The meeting was presided over by Haji Abdul Rasheed Dhap.

The participants highlighted the challenges faced by landowners and farmers, condemning the heavy taxes on agricultural income.

The meeting decided that key regional figures, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi – who hails from Dera Ismail Khan – would be contacted for support.

Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Lutfur Rehman, the parliamentary leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, criticised the tax, stating that agriculture was the backbone of the economy, and ‘sabotaging’ it would harm the nation.

He emphasised that policymaking should be consultative and practical, warning that ‘further economic destruction’ should be avoided. He called the one per cent tax on an income of Rs150 million a ‘disservice’ to the nation.

He also highlighted that completing the lift canal project would make the province self-sufficient in wheat production.

MPA Ehsanullah Miankhel pointed out that 66 per cent of the province’s cultivated land was in Dera and Tank. He accused the PTI government of adopting anti-farmer policies, stating that no work had been done on Gomal Zam Dam’s distributaries, no cleaning of irrigation canals had taken place, and heavy machinery was being misused. He also alleged that wheat procurement was deliberately delayed, benefiting certain vested interests.

The protest leaders warned that the sudden approval of the agricultural tax without debate in the assembly was even harsher than IMF conditions. They demanded the withdrawal of tax on Rs1.2 million of income, and revision of the land rent collection policies.

On the occasion, Abdul Rasheed Dhap announced plans to challenge the tax in court and called for unity among farmers to safeguard their rights. He criticised Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for failing to support the farming community.

Other speakers also voiced their concerns over the ‘punitive’ taxation policies. They highlighted that farmers were already paying taxes on agricultural inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers, and machinery.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2025