LAHORE : The ongoing surge in diesel prices now at their highest level in Pakistan’s history is severely impacting the country’s economy, particularly the agriculture and transport sectors, said Ejaz Shafi, General Secretary of PTI Kissan Wing Punjab.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, he stated that diesel is the backbone of agriculture, as it is essential for running tractors, tube wells, harvesters, and transporting crops. He added that when diesel prices rise to record levels, the cost of production increases sharply, directly affecting farmers’ incomes and pushing overall food prices upward. He further stated that if diesel prices are reduced, it would immediately lower farming costs, benefit growers, and help control inflation. “Relief in fuel prices will not only support farmers but also bring down transportation costs, ultimately benefiting the entire economy,” he said.
Linking the issue with wheat procurement, he stated that the government’s performance remains highly concerning. Punjab has so far procured only 4,300 metric tonnes of wheat, achieving just 0.15pc of its 3 million tonne target. “If this pace continues, the target will remain unattainable, and farmers will suffer the most,” he warned.
He stated that although over 75,000 farmers have registered at 235 procurement centres, the actual results on ground are weak.
Out of 1.849 million gunny bags, only 0.219 million have been distributed, and just 42,880 bags have been returned filled. “This clearly reflects inefficiency in the system,” he remarked. He also stated that while Rs95 million has been paid to farmers, a significant amount of Rs242.85 million is still pending. “At a time when farmers are already burdened by record-high diesel costs, delays in payments are unacceptable,” he said. He stated that despite measures like free gunny bags, monitoring committees, and helplines, their impact is not visible. He questioned that if monitoring is truly effective, why procurement remains so slow.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, he stated that nearly 2.99 million tonnes of wheat, worth over Rs262 billion, are still to be procured. He urged the government to immediately reduce diesel prices, accelerate procurement, ensure timely payments, and provide real facilitation to farmers.
He concluded that if urgent steps are not taken, rising input costs and delayed procurement will force farmers to sell their produce at lower prices, strengthening middlemen and destabilising the wheat supply chain.
