Wheat crisis has become a source of big destruction of national economy: Liaqat Baloch

Says federal & provincial govts are deceiving people regarding purchase of wheat

LAHORE, May 6 (SABAH): Naib Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Liaqat Baloch has said that wheat crisis has become a source of big destruction of national economy. He said that federal and provincial governments are deceiving the people regarding purchase of wheat.

While talking to leaders of Kissan Board, Liaqat Baloch said that at first the government of Punjab announced to buy wheat at 3900 per man. He said now Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through Pasco announced to buy 18 lack metric tonne wheat but till now wheat has not been purchased. He said the announcements of federal and provincial governments regarding purchase of wheat are mere deception, adding millions of tones of wheat is being wasted in the fields and the farmers are protesting.

He said that farmers of Punjab and Sindh are being teased and they are protesting. He warned if the federal and provincial governments do not buy wheat from the farmers at the fixed rate then from May 10 protest, rallies and sit-ins would be taken out at large scale. He said the people will march towards Chief Minister Punjab and Chief Minister Sindh secretariats.

Liaqat Baloch further said that Jamaat-e-Islami will not leave the farmers in the lurch, adding that they would play a national role to save farmers and tenants.  Now from previous 20 days, the farmers have been putting millions of tones of wheat in the fields while on the other side the government is making committees to ponder over the matter, he added.

He said it is big failure of the government, adding if the government does not search solution of this problem the country would be pushed towards a big crisis and protest. He said the gruesome aspect of our economy is that our national annual income is 700 billion rupees while our expenditures are 1450 billion rupees.

Liaqat Baloch said that the government is not decreasing perks and privileges of the elite class and all the burden is placed on the people. He said if the dacoity on national resources and unfair perks and privileges are ended then Pakistan would not have to go to World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) but it needed national passion. He also welcomed a big trade delegation from Saudi Arabia and added in Pakistan there are many opportunities of investment.