Protesting farmers threaten to enter red zone 

Farmers have threatened to march to D Chowk if the government does not accept their demands. 

The deadlock between the protesting farmers and the federal government persist on the third day, however, no breakthrough has been achieved in the negotiations until now.

The fourth attempt made by the government to convince the farmers to end their sit-in in Islamabad failed again because the farmers are adamant.

On Friday, thousands of farmers from across the country held a massive protest against the rising cost of electricity and fertilizers which have badly hit their income.

Their representative body Kisan Ittihad Union gave the government a deadline of 11 am tomorrow (Oct 01, 2022).  

“I have taken time from Kisan tonight,” said Kisan Ittihad Union Chairman Khalid Butt adding that the farmers will go and die in front of Parliament House tomorrow. 

Officials said the farmers came from across Punjab province and were demanding restoration of the previous tube-well electricity tariff of Rs 5.3 per unit and abolishing all taxes and adjustments. They are also seeking an end to the black marketing of fertilizers and a reduction of the urea rate which has risen to 400 per cent. They also demanded increased prices of wheat and sugarcane.

 Talks were held between the government led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and the farmers’ leaders but the negotiations failed to end the deadlock. 

The farmer asked the government to defer the bills and revise the power tariff. They also demanded a reduction in electricity bills. 

The farmers have threatened to go to the D-Chowk area in front of the parliament building.