Balochistan farmers postpone march to Islamabad after government assurances — Dawn

In Quetta, Pakistan, the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad alliance postponed its planned march and sit-in protest to Islamabad following an appeal and assurances from the Balochistan provincial government. The action had been due to begin on Friday. Dawn reports.

Talks with the provincial government

According to Balochistan’s adviser on home affairs, Babar Yousafzai, a government delegation led by provincial minister Ali Madad Jattak met with Kissan Ittehad president Khalid Baat. Balochistan Assembly member Mir Jahanzeb Mengal also took part in the talks.

The delegation assured the farmers’ representative that the authorities would take steps to consider the agricultural workers’ demands and account for their legitimate interests. Khalid Baat accepted these assurances and agreed to postpone the march, pledging cooperation with the government. According to Yousafzai, the decision was also made in view of the current situation in the country and security considerations.

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Demands of the farmers’ alliance

Before the decision to postpone the protest, Baat said at a press conference that the march to Islamabad was intended to draw attention to the demands of farmers and landowners. Among them, he named the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, whose agricultural policy, he said, is criticized by the farmers’ alliance.

Baat also stated that farmers’ convoys from different regions of the country were expected to join the march. According to him, the agricultural sector has suffered significant losses over the past three years because of misguided policies, while rising inflation has made it harder for low-income people to access basic food products. He called on Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti to declare an agricultural emergency in the province and give the sector priority over development projects.