Farmers end protest after successful talks with government in Lahore

LAHORE: The farmers, protesting under the banner of ‘Pakistan Kissan Ittehad’ on Thursday announced to call off their protest in Lahore after holding successful negotiations with Chief Minister Punjab, Usman Buzdar.

As per details, a delegation of protesting farmers met with the chief minister Punjab, and apprised him about their demands, in a meeting that took place in chief minister house here today.

“Chief minister has accepted our [farmers] demands during another round of talks,” said Chairman Kissan Ittehad, Chaudhry Anwar.

He said Sugar mills will start crushing of sugarcane from Monday, at the rate of Rs180 as assured by the chief minister Punjab, while rate of wheat will be Rs1300 per mound.

“Kissan Ittehad representatives will be placed in every mills to ensure purchase of sugarcane on the rate fixed by the government,” Chaudhry Anwar continued.

Mr Anwar said cases registered against farmers will be taken back by the provincial government.

The farmers had reached Lahore yesterday from various parts of Punjab, and staged a sit-in at Thokar Niaz Baig area of the city.

A government team comprising of provincial agriculture and health ministers held talks with the leaders of farmers.

A spokesman of protesting farmers had said the ministers were conveyed seven demands of the farmers and they had promised to convey the demands to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

The overall demands had included immediate start of sugarcane crushing by sugar mills, cut in fertilizer’s price and the cost of per unit electricity, establishment of markets exclusively for farmers where they could directly sale their products, announcement of support prices of sugarcane and wheat and withdrawal of cases against farmers.