Punjab government stands with farmers, their problems to be solved: Minister Agriculture

BAHAWALPUR: Provincial Minister for Agriculture Naeem Akhtar Bhabha Monday said that manipulation of small farmers and growers would not be tolerated and government would solve problems including unnecessary deduction and delay in payments and permits.

Addressing a meeting held here at Commissioner Office, he said that government stands with the farmers and solid steps are being taken to solve their problems.

He said that Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the situation and directed divisional and district administrations to launch crackdown against middlemen.

Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal told the meeting that one middleman has been taken into custody for 30 days under 16 MPO so that no other person can dare to usurp rights of farmers.

He told the meeting that eight permit points have been set up in the district from where 660 permits for sugarcane sale are issued daily.

Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Capt (retd) Saqib Zafar and President Pakistan Kisan Ittehad Khalid Khokhar also attended the meeting while Deputy Commissioners of Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh districts participated in the meeting through video link.