ISLAMABAD: Kisan Ittehad Pakistan (KIP) has demanded immediate compensation for flood-affected farmers to enable them continue work on their lands for the next crop.

“Farmers affected by the monsoon rains and floods should be provided financial assistance, and taxes, dues imposed on them be waived off immediately. Subsidies should also be provided on fertilizers, seeds so that they grow their next crops,” KIP Central Chairman Khalid Hussain Bath told reporters at the National Press Club on Tuesday.

He demanded that independent investigations should be conducted into the wheat, cotton and sugar scandals so that farmers can get justice. Farmers are the backbone of Pakistan, and if they are weak, the country’s economy can never be strong, he said.

Mr Bath said that due to the shortage of wheat, its prices were increasing in the country. “The price of wheat has increased by Rs1,000 in a week,” he said.

Kisan Ittehad Pakistan chief calls for waiving off taxes, seeks subsidies on fertilisers, seeds

“Rains and floods in Pakistan have destroyed the standing crops and houses of farmers. But instead of compensation, the government has started raiding houses of farmers and registering FIRs against them,” he regretted. “We will resist it to the hilt,” he vowed.

The farmers’ leader expressed solidarity with the families affected by floods all over Pakistan. Today, farmers’ standing crops and houses have been destroyed due to the devastation of rains and floods all over the country.

“When floods come, farmers’ crops are destroyed, while in the remaining days, farmers crave for every drop of water, but corrupt politicians and bureaucracy do not allow any big dam to be built in the country. Farmers are suffering from economic crisis, crops destruction and government indifference. The government has caused farmers a loss of trillions of rupees by not purchasing wheat,” he regretted.

Farmers are not able to fully receive their hard-earned income, while the sugar and fertilizer scandals have put more burdens on them. Farmers are not able to meet their costs even after bearing the heavy costs of fertilizer, diesel and electricity.

Thousands of acres of land and standing crops have been destroyed, which has made it difficult for farmers to arrange two meals a day. He demanded that immediate financial assistance be provided to the flood-affected farmers and taxes, dues imposed on them be waived off immediately, and that subsidies on fertilizers and seeds be provided to them so that they can continue to work on the land for the next crop.

KIP Central President Mian Umair Masood said farmers do not have money to cultivate the next crop; they cannot recover the cost incurred on farming; and, to add salt to the injury, the government has set the price of wheat below the cost. It is a great injustice with the farmers, he said.

“We will not only protest against the government but will also approach court if our grievances are not addressed,” he warned.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2025