LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has demanded that the government purchase wheat from farmers at the rate of Rs4,000 per maund and ensure that the price of roti does not exceed Rs10.

Addressing a multi-party conference organised by the JI Punjab (Central) chapter on issues facing the agriculture sector, he called for a flat electricity rate for tube wells and said the sugar mafia `which is part of the government` is exploiting farmers.

Rehman announced that farmers` associations would hold sit-ins at all district headquarters across Punjab on April 15 to press for their demands.

He urged farmers to join the protest with their tractors and trolleys and warned that after April 15, a long march from rural areas towardsLahore and Islamabad could be launched. `Farmers must unite to fight for their rights,` he said.

Leaders of farmer unions, political and religious parties, and members of the legal fraternity were also present at the conference.

Participants expressed grave concern over the worsening condition of the farming community, saying the present government is crossing all limits in its `anti-farmer policies`.

The conference unanimously demanded that the support price of wheat be set at Rs4,000 per maund and a flat electricity rate be introduced for tube wells. Additionally, it called for reduced prices of agricultural inputs such as pesticides, seeds, fertilizers, and farm machinery. It Interest-It demanded interest-free loans for farmers, deregulation of the wheat market and lifting of the restrictions on wheat movement.

It also demanded that sugarcane prices be linked to sugar rates, and immediate payment of billions of rupees owed to farmers by sugar mill owners.

Addressing the participants, the J1emir recalled how the Punjab government backtracked on its wheatsupport price commitment last year, which he termed an unprecedented betrayal to farmers. He also highlighted the `billion-dollar wheat import scandal`, which, he said, has yet to be investigated.

`The wheat support price should not be linked to the price of roti, as both should be subsidised, as per the UN Food Security Charter,` he emphasised.

He criticised sugar mill owners for buying sugarcane at Rs350 per maund while selling sugar at Rs180 per kg, besides enjoying privileges such as import/export permissions.

He slammed the government for, what he called, running the economy through advertisements, ignoring ground realities. `Sixty percent of Pakistan`s population is tied to agriculture, but only 4-5 per cent are large landlords. The rest are small farmers with no voice. Their children are out of school, they lack basic health services and fundamental rights,` he deplored.

Offering JPs platform to all farmer organisations, he urged them to unite under one banner to amplify their demands. `We are not concerned about taking credit,` he added.