In Okara, the police Saturday charged batons at the farmers who came to collect the fertilizer. Constable Tariq of Baseerpur police post started torturing the farmers when they reached the check post to collect the fertilizer slip.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, the farmers alleged that the police were providing fertilizer by taking bribes from influential people. The farmers have demanded immediate notice from Prime Minister Imran Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and Agriculture Minister.
Earlier, farmers in Manchinabad beat fertilizer dealers and tehsil administration over the non-availability of urea fertilizer, the local administration has registered a case against 22 persons for interfering in the affairs of the government.
Pakistan People’s Party on Thursday also announced the party will hold a tractor march on January 24 amid the pertaining fertilizer crisis. PPP central leaders alleged that the government has been importing everything on credit.
The fertilizer crisis intensified in South Punjab, Wheat crop begins to wither due to the lack of fertilizer in most parts of the province. The farmers said that they could not get fertilizer even after queuing all day long; getting fertilizer at a controlled price has become a dream.
Due to the non-reduction of fertilizer prices and crisis, farmers have been forced to buy expensive fertilizers, which have led to protests by farmers. Farmers said that fertilizer dealers were not selling fertilizers at controlled rates and the administration was favouring influential people in the supply of fertilizers.
The fertilizer crisis persists in most cities of the country. The government has taken notice of the artificial fertilizer crisis but despite this, various fertilizers are still scarce in South Punjab and the majority of farmers are starving in search of them.
Farmers have demanded the government to fix the subsidized price of wheat and crackdown on stockists on a large scale.