LAHORE : Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Farmers Wing have criticised the government for rising fuel prices, particularly diesel, warning that continued policies could devastate the agricultural sector and trigger a nationwide tractor strike.
They warned if the government does not withdraw taxes on petrol and diesel, they will launch a “tractor strike movement.”
Speaking at the Lahore Press Club, PTI Farmers Wing General Secretary and MPA Mian Ejaz Shafi said that petrol and diesel prices have reached historic highs, with diesel price hikes causing severe damage to agriculture. He accused the Prime Minister of misleading the public by reducing petrol prices by Rs80 per litre while ignoring diesel, which is essential for farming operations.
Shafi emphasised that diesel is used at every stage of agriculture, from production to transportation, and that farmers have not received fair prices for their crops over the past two years. He blamed what he termed “incompetent governance” for the crisis, questioning whether international financial institutions like the IMF are influencing policies that harm agriculture, while the government continues to spend billions on projects such as purchasing a new aircraft.
He alleged irregularities in wheat procurement, claiming that the government formed 11 companies—one linked to a senior political figure—to purchase wheat at profit, benefiting a select group. He also highlighted disparities in the sugar sector, stating that sugarcane is being bought from farmers at low rates while sugar is sold at high prices in the market.
According to Shafi, Pakistan imported agricultural products worth $7 billion in the past year, including $2 billion worth of cotton, reflecting declining domestic productivity. He also criticised heavy payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and taxes imposed on farmers who shifted to solar energy.
The PTI leader noted that wheat farmers suffered losses of Rs2,200 billion last year, while two urea plants have shut down this year, further worsening the situation. He demanded that farmers in Punjab be provided with interest-free loans to sustain agricultural activity.
The PTI Farmers Wing warned that if the government does not withdraw taxes on petrol and diesel, it will launch a “tractor strike movement,” cautioning that halting agricultural machinery could cause irreparable damage to the national economy.
Shafi also questioned the timing of fuel price increases during the Iran-Israel conflict, noting that Pakistan was reportedly among the countries allowed to transport oil through the Strait of Hormuz during the crisis.
On the occasion, MPA M Mushtaq criticised what he described as contradictory government actions, including fuel price hikes by federal ministers, selective price reductions by the Prime Minister, and free transport initiatives by the Punjab government. He termed these measures “open exploitation and fraud” against the public and called for a thorough investigation.
The PTI Farmers Wing leaders declared the current petroleum pricing structure “unjustified” and demanded that the government present clear reasons for the increases to the public.
