Markazi Kisan League Chairman Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali Olakh welcomed the agricultural development and water conservation announcements made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Olakh stated that the successful execution of these plans could bolster Pakistan's food security and the broader agriculture sector.
The Kisan League requested that the government purchase wheat at a rate of Rs4,500 per maund. Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali Olakh called for the removal of private companies and middlemen from the procurement process to ensure direct government buying.
Water conservation measures and the creation of agricultural processing units were also demanded by the group. Establishing processing units in regional clusters could improve the earnings of farmers and decrease crop losses, Olakh said.
The chairman described farmers and the agriculture industry as the backbone of the national economy. He insisted that government promises must produce practical results instead of remaining as mere paperwork.
A federal plan exists to spend Rs5,000 billion over the next ten years to improve water resources. This includes a proposal to develop 400 small dams in the Potohar region.
Olakh urged the government to invest in modern food storage facilities and warehouses. Efficient storage systems can preserve food supplies, reduce losses after harvest, and strengthen national food security.
