Latest news with #KhalidHussainBathh
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Pakistan: Farmers in Balochistan criticise govt for not providing funds for solarisation
Kissan Ittehad Pakistan (KIP) Chairman Khalid Hussain Bathh has slammed the Balochistan government for not providing funds to the farmers of Nasirabad Division—the only green belt of the province— for converting agricultural tube wells to solar energy despite making promises, local media reported on Sunday. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he stated that tube wells have become non-operational, crops are drying up, and farmers are facing huge financial losses due to the disruption of electricity supply, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. He stated that authorities had promised funds for solarisation to farmers. However, the approved funds have not been released so far. Electricity connections were disconnected, and the supply was shifted from three-phase to two-phase before the payments were made. He stated that tube wells had become non-operational, and no water was flowing in the Rabi Canal, while agriculture, livestock, and local communities were suffering badly due to the disruption of the electricity supply. The KIP Chairman said that crops were destroyed due to the unavailability of irrigation water, and there was even a shortage of drinking water. After the Balochistan Irrigation Minister's assurances, the farmers had sown crops; however, the seeds were destroyed due to water shortage. Bathh said: "No developmental initiatives, such as skill development centres, agricultural workshops, or projects for women farmers—who work alongside men in the fields—have been launched for their capacity building." He requested the government to announce a solar energy programme for farmers in the Rabi Canal, Nari, and Bolan areas who currently depend on diesel generators for irrigation. In February, the Green Kissan Ittehad (GKI) rejected the 35 per cent tax on agricultural production in Balochistan and across the country, implemented under International Monetary Fund (IMF) directive, terming it a "cruel and anti-farmer measure." While addressing a press conference, GKI President Agha Lal Jan Ahmadzai called for providing compensation to farmers impacted by the construction of the Quetta-Karachi Highway in Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangochar, Mastung, Surrab and other regions, Dawn reported. He mentioned that 75 per cent of people in Pakistan work in the agriculture sector, which provides fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products to Pakistan and contributes millions of rupees in taxes. He noted that despite this, the agriculture sector of Balochistan was on the verge of collapse.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Balochistan: Farmers slam govt over solarisation funds, warn of crisis
Quetta [Pakistan], August 17 (ANI): Farmers in Balochistan have slammed the provincial government for failing to release promised funds for the solarisation of agricultural tube wells in Nasirabad Division, the province's only green belt, Dawn a press conference on Saturday, Kissan Ittehad Pakistan (KIP) Chairman Khalid Hussain Bathh said that the disconnection of electricity supply has rendered tube wells non-functional, leaving crops to dry up and farmers to suffer heavy financial losses. He noted that despite pledges, the approved amount for solarisation has not been released, Dawn quoted Khalid as saying that before any payments were made, electricity connections were cut and supply was shifted from three-phase to two-phase. As a result, tube wells remain idle, and with no water reaching the Rabi Canal, agriculture, livestock, and surrounding communities are suffering acute KIP chairman added that the shortage of irrigation water has already destroyed crops, while drinking water is also becoming scarce. Farmers had cultivated fields on the assurance of the provincial irrigation minister, but the shortage of water meant their seeds were wasted, according to also criticised the government for failing to launch any developmental initiatives such as skill development centres, agricultural workshops, or programmes for women farmers who work alongside men in the fields. Khalid urged authorities to introduce a solar energy scheme for farmers in the Rabi Canal, Nari, and Bolan areas, where irrigation currently depends on expensive diesel generators, Dawn June, the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) issued a stark warning about a deepening agricultural crisis that has plagued the country since May 2024, causing unprecedented financial losses for farmers and triggering a sharp decline in Pakistan's vital agricultural sector, Dawn reported.'The agricultural sector, the backbone of our economy, is teetering on the brink," Dawn quoted PKI President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar as to Dawn, the PKI recommended abolishing any further tax burden on the sector, stressing that it cannot absorb additional levies such as General Sales Tax (GST) or Federal Excise Duty (FED). The farmers' body also urged the government to immediately announce support or indicative prices for all crops to prevent the exploitation of further demanded the establishment of a robust, efficient, and transparent commodity pricing mechanism to stabilise the agricultural market and safeguard farmers' livelihoods, Dawn reported. (ANI)
