LAHORE: The Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC) on Thursday declared the country’s agricultural policies a “complete failure” and announced a nationwide farmers’ movement, while the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Punjab Kissan Wing accuses the provincial government of creating an artificial wheat crisis, demanding removal of key provincial officials, holding them responsible for the situation.
The PKRC, at a meeting of its central leadership, attended by farmers’ representatives from across the country, said the government’s policies failed to increase agricultural production and protect farmers’ interests.
It strongly criticised the decision to import one million tonnes of wheat, instead of ensuring remunerative prices for local growers, describing it as a consequence of policy failure.
The committee announced a nationwide campaign focusing on corporate farming, minimum support prices, equitable distribution of water, environmental justice and land ownership rights, saying rallies and public meetings would be organised across all four provinces.
Separately, PTI Punjab Kissan Wing Secretary General Ejaz Shafi says the Punjab government’s wheat policies from 2024 to 2026 had devastated farmers, undermined food security and pushed the country to expensive wheat imports, despite claims of a “record harvest.”
He said Punjab produced around 21.5 million tonnes of wheat this season, but nearly four million tonnes remained unaccounted for, alleging that weak regulatory oversight resulted in private traders and stockists stocking large quantities of wheat.
Mr Shafi questioned why Punjab, despite being the country’s largest wheat-producing province, had reportedly sought around 0.8 million tonnes of wheat from PASSCO’s strategic reserves, saying it contradicted official claims of surplus production.
He also criticised the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for allowing wheat imports, calling it an “admission of policy failure” that could cost the national exchequer around Rs120 billion.
He warned that importing Hard Red Winter (HRW) wheat from the United States at about $295 per tonne, along with freight and other charges, would further increase the financial burden.
Holding senior officials responsible for, what he termed, wheat crisis, Mr Shafi demanded immediate removal of the Punjab agriculture minister, provincial food secretary and agriculture secretary, alleging that their policies had severely damaged the farming sector and the livelihoods of millions of growers.
The PKRC meeting, chaired by its president Tariq Mahmood and secretary general Riffat Maqsood, also condemned the arrest of eight farmer leaders during the protests in Vehari on April 17 and demanded withdrawal of “fabricated” cases against all detained activists, including Zulfiqar Awan.
The committee opposed the privatisation of departments under the agriculture ministry and urged the government to introduce official minimum support prices for major crops. It also rejected the eviction of tenant farmers under corporate farming initiatives, demanding land ownership rights for tenants and redistribution of land among landless farmers.
The participants called for equitable water distribution among provinces, urging the government to ensure Sindh and Balochistan received their due share of water. They also stressed promoting sustainable and natural farming by reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
The PKRC also announced that its provincial congresses would be held in Punjab and Sindh to elect new provincial leadership.
Those who addressed the meeting include Faiz Kerio, Ismail Khaskheli, Ashiq Domki, Gulzar Khan, Mehr Ghulam Abbas, Farooq Tariq, Hasnain Jamil Faridi, Saima Zia and Zebunnisa.
Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2026
