LAHORE (INP): The Punjab government has decided to revive subsidy on power tariff withdrawn in this fiscal year and also withdraw the cases registered against the farmer leaders.
According to Pakistan Kissan Ittehad media release, a delegation of PKI under the leadership of its Chairman Chauddhry Muhammad Anwar met with the provincial secretaries of the departments of Food, Agriculture and Irrigation and appraised them of the problems being faced by the growers.
“The officers promised to look into the matter and after approval from the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, we have been informed that our demands of the revival of the subsidy and withdrawal of cases registered during the protests in different areas of the Punjab,” said Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar after the meeting.
He explained that now the growers will pay only Rs. 10.35 per unit of the electricity. “We are in process of taking PEPCO officials into confidence to pay our outstanding dues on electricity bills as there a lot of overbilling complaints by the WAPDA officials, so we want get them settled amicably,” the PKI chief said, adding that only 20 per cent of the farmers have not yet paid their bills due to overbilling as they are awaiting settlement.
Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar also said that the provincial officials have assured to emphasize the purchase of cotton by Trading Corporation of Pakistan to maintain stability in prices of cotton in the market.
He said the PKI is in favour of composite dialogue with neighbouring India on disputes but would not compromise the rights of the growers of our own homeland.
