Int’l Day of Peasants’ Struggles: PKRC says will hold countrywide protests on 17th

LAHORE: The Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC) has announced countrywide protests on April 17 in observance of the International Day of Peasants’ Struggles, with a series of demands aimed at addressing mounting challenges faced by the agricultural sector. The planned demonstrations will call for an immediate halt to corporate farming initiatives, withdrawal of eviction notices issued to tenant farmers, fixation of wheat support price at Rs 4, 000 per maund, and reversal of the policy to procure wheat through private sector companies. Addressing at a press conference, the PKRC General Secretary Riffat Maqsood, Joint Secretary Qammar Abbas, Haris Ahmed, and senior leader Farooq Tariq highlighted that the past two years have proven particularly detrimental for farmers. They noted that crop prices have consistently declined while input costs — including seeds, fertilisers, and energy — have surged significantly. The speakers pointed out that growers of potato, cauliflower, sesame and other crops have incurred record losses this year, alleging a lack of meaningful government intervention or support mechanisms. Criticising the government’s move towards privatisation of wheat procurement, the PKRC representatives stated that around 11 private companies have been allowed to purchase wheat through intermediaries and store it in state-owned warehouses, a function previously carried out by PASSCO and the provincial food department. They expressed concerns that such arrangements would suppress farmgate prices, claiming that farmers may not receive even Rs 3, 500 per 40 kg. The committee further alleged that under the framework of corporate farming, land cultivated by tenant farmers for generations is being reassigned to private contractors. They cited the example of Hasilpur, where eviction notices have reportedly been issued to long-settled tenants. The PKRC reiterated that farmers would resist any such displacement through peaceful means. According to the committee, protests will be staged across 68 districts at over 100 locations nationwide. Farmers, tenants, and agricultural workers are expected to participate in large numbers to oppose what they termed as “anti-farmer policies. ” Demonstrations are scheduled in multiple cities including Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Pakpattan, Arifwala, Vehari, Hasilpur, Multan, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Peshawar, Swat, Quetta, Sukkur, Hyderabad and Larkana. In Lahore, the main protest will take place outside the Press Club. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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