Falak Sher
MARDAN
City Mayor Himayatullah Mayar has said that the new tax imposed by the provincial government on the agricultural and tobacco sectors is unfair to landlords and an anti-farmer policy, which should be withdrawn immediately.
He expressed these views while addressing a news conference at the Mardan Press Club. Laquat Khan spokesman Anjumn-e-Ithad Kashtkarn, Aurangzeb Kashmiri, Central Secretary General of APCA and other farmers’ representatives were also present on the occasion.
Himayat Mayar said that farmers are already facing severe financial difficulties and they cannot afford to pay this additional tax. He added that the implementation of the agriculture tax Act 2025 will increase the tax on farmers from 6 percent to 45 percent, pushing agriculture further into crisis.
He added if the provincial government does not show seriousness on this issue, it will become difficult for farmers to maintain their lands and they will be forced to sell them for township projects, which will lead to a significant decrease in agricultural production.
Liaquat Khan, spokesperson of the Anjum-e-Ithad Kashtkaran, said that in other provinces, especially in Punjab, interest-free loans and modern agricultural facilities are being provided to farmers, but unfortunately, the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not paying any attention to this.
He said that several mills have been closed in Mardan, Charsadda and other areas, due to which there are severe negative impacts on the local economy.
The new tax is being implemented under pressure from the IMF, which will prove disastrous for the country’s economy and agriculture.
He pointed out that there is no concept of agricultural tax in neighboring countries, while its implementation here is taking away the livelihood of farmers.
He warned that if the government did not withdraw the agriculture tax Act 2025, they will start protests across the province in the first phase and later they will stage sit-in outside the provincial assembly and raise their voices loudly for their rights.
