LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab Central President Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo has criticised the government for slow pace of procurement drive of wheat in Punjab
Wattoo, in a statement, alleged that the farmers are being forced to sell their crop at the rate of Rs1000 and Rs900 per 40kg to traders and mill owners as against the government support price of Rs1300. He further alleged that the distribution of gunny bags through middle men must be stopped forthwith to ensure their availability to the farmers without delay and political considerations.
Wattoo pointed out that protest of the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad under the leadership of Khurram Jehangir Wattoo, MPA, in Deepalpur, should serve as an eye opener for government mandarins. He congratulated the farmers and the organisers for holding a big protest against the anti-farmer policies of the government.
Commenting on the Rural Roads Programme announced by the Chief Minister recently, Wattoo said that allocation of Rs15 billion during the current financial year was too little and too late because it required about Rs50 billions to repair the roads of one district (Okara) alone.
He averred that the erroneous development priorities of this government had already created a yawning gap of economic disparities between Lahore and the rest of the province, thereby defying the narrative of sustainable and balanced economic development.
