PESHAWAR
Chairman, Amun Taraqqi Party (ATP) Muhammad Faiq Shah while commenting on ongoing protest of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI), demanded the federal and provincial governments to accept legitimate demands of protesting farmers.
Shah during his address to the provincial council here on Sunday described agriculture and industries as the future of the country, without them, the country may have fallen prey to hunger and starvation, he feared.
He called upon governments of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to frame a joint policy in order to take benefits of flood and rain erosion.
Shah emphasized that focus should be kept on the fertile lands, seeds in rainfed ‘Barani’ areas, growth in industrial production and livestock.
Furthermore, he called to constitute a joint network to take benefits from each other’s experiences.
Assistance should be availed from experts and a joint board of decision making needed to be formulated, he stressed.
Faiq asked for the announcement of a special relief package for protection of the farming community to be announced in order to meet with set harvesting and crop targets.
The ATP chief sought special initiatives should be taken for boosting up textile, pharmaceutical industries, livestock sector and growth in fruit harvesting and production so that it will yield tangible and positive results.
Talking about rising prices of flour and sugar, Shah emphasized that a timely policy should be devised to avert the flour and sugar crisis in the country.
He noted the sugarcane crop has inflicted severe damage this year, while thousands of acres of cultivable lands/standing crops have been drowned in floods.
Faiq asked to sort out an alternative solution and remove difficulties of people by taking assistance from experts.
He said ATP has given a comprehensive sketch of agriculture and industrial policy, urging the all provincial governments to ensure its implementation.
