Protesters chant slogans at a rally organized by Awami Tehreek and Sindhyani Tehreek in Khairpur Nathan Shah town
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The rally was held against Corporate Farming, Six New Canals, IRSA Act Amendments, and low Wheat and Other Crop Prices
Khairpur Nathan Shah, Sindh
A protest rally was organized by the Awami Tehreek and Sindhyani Tehreek in Khairpur Nathan Shah town of Dadu district on Friday against corporate farming, six new canals, amendments to the IRSA Act, and the government’s failure to set wheat and other crop procurement prices.
The rally commenced from the Community Center and culminated in a demonstration outside the local Press Club, with significant participation of women and children.
Demonstrators carried placards inscribed with their demands and slogans such as ‘end corporate farming projects’, ‘stop land grabbing’, ‘cancel anti-Sindh canals’, ‘Federal government must choose between canals and Pakistan’.
They demanded immediate cancellation of six new canals and to halt corporate farming projects; guarantee Sindh’s rightful water share under the 1945 Sindh-Punjab Water Accord; set fair wheat and other crop prices to protect farmers from exploitation; halt illegal occupation of lands under the guise of corporate farming and the Green Pakistan Initiative.
Addressing the rally Advocate Sajid Hussain Mahesar, Central General Secretary, Awami Tehreek said that the IRSA has done injustice to Sindh. Its three-tier water-sharing formula violates the constitution and national laws. Six new canals are being dug from the Indus River to supply water to corporate farming companies, depriving Sindh of its rightful share. These canals are a conspiracy to annihilate 70 million Sindhis.
Mahe Noor Mallah, Central Joint Secretary, Awami Tehreek said that the PPP must stop its hypocritical opposition to the canals. President Zardari approved these canals on July 8, 2024, under the Green Pakistan Initiative. If the PPP truly opposes them, it should break ties with the federal government. The PPP must oppose corporate farming and the so-called Green Pakistan Initiative, as these six new canals and illegal amendments to IRSA are designed to divert Indus River water to corporate farming companies. If the PPP continues its drama, the people of Sindh will treat the PPP like Ayub, Zia, Musharraf, and other dictators.
Bakhtawar Mallah Central Deputy General Secretary, Sindhyani Tehreek said that wheat and other crops’ lower price is economic murder of farmers. Corporate land grabbers are displacing indigenous communities, forcing coastal populations in Thatta, Badin and Sujawal to migrate due to artificial water scarcity. The Indus Delta’s ecosystem and Sindhi livelihoods face genocide through water diversion.
Advocate Najeeb ur Rehman Mahesar, Central Legal Advisor, Awami Tehreek said that Sindh’s lands are being snatched from farmers and handed to corporations. In Kachho (Dadu), thousands of acres have been seized. These lands belong to the Sindhi people, not any government.
Kashif Malah, Central Media Secretary, Awami Tehreek said that Water theft is destroying Sindh’s agriculture. We will resist these canals just as we defeated the Kalabagh Dam under Rasool Bux Palijo’s leadership. Our anti-corporate farming movement will continue until these projects are scrapped.
He added that the government refuses to purchase wheat from farmers to support corporate farming companies and wheat smugglers. In 2022, the government-backed profiteers (middlemen who hoard and sell food items at inflated prices) sold flour at Rs.5000 per 40 kg while they purchased wheat at the rate of Rs.2000 per 40Kg. Now, the government refuses to purchase wheat from farmers, and is being bought by middlemen, smugglers, and profiteers at Rs.2400 per 40kg. And after some time the profiteers will sell flour on inflated prices. He demanded fair wheat prices and urged the government to create a plan to control flour and other prices, as capitalists buy crops at lower rates and sell them at unaffordable rates to the public. Additionally, they smuggle wheat and other food items to Afghanistan and other countries. The government must prevent smuggling to protect farmers and consumers.
Read: PPP accused of selling the Indus River
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