Hassan Murtaza Condemns Government's Decision to Privatize PASSCO, Cautions Against Wheat Shortage

Hassan Murtaza Strongly Opposes Privatization of PASSCO, Warns of Wheat Shortage

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Hassan Murtaza has come out strongly against the government's decision to privatize the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO), calling it a harmful move for the country's agriculture. During a press conference on Wednesday, Murtaza made it clear that while the PPP strongly condemns corruption, they don't support shutting down important government institutions that serve the public’s needs.

Murtaza expressed deep concern about the government's policies, particularly how he believes they will hurt farmers and could lead to a wheat shortage. He was joined at the press conference by other PPP leaders, including Aurangzeb Burki, Mian Mubashir Rahman, Faisal Mir, Ayesha Nawaz, and Inayat Ali Shah. Representatives from the All Pakistan PASSCO Employees Union, Babar Ali and Anees Babar, were also present, showing their solidarity with Murtaza’s stance.

The PPP leader questioned the logic behind selling 150,000 acres of wheat at a loss and raised alarms about the government's growing dependence on wheat imports despite Pakistan having a strong agricultural base. Murtaza also criticized the government for ignoring farmers' rights, particularly in setting fair prices for their produce. He also pointed out that the government’s neglect of the agriculture sector is hurting local farming communities.

Murtaza took a moment to highlight the successes of the PPP’s past reforms under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari, which helped improve the lives of farmers. However, he also acknowledged the rising costs of essential farming supplies that are now making it harder for farmers to survive. He stressed the vital role that PASSCO plays in wheat procurement and storage, adding that the corporation has had significant financial involvement with banks, despite the government owning only a minority stake in it.

In an effort to strengthen his argument, Murtaza alleged that government ministers had been involved in corruption and claimed to have evidence of mismanagement within PASSCO. He made it clear that the PPP fully supports PASSCO and will fight any efforts to privatize or shut it down.

Murtaza ended his remarks with a warning: if the Punjab government pulls out of wheat procurement, it will have severe consequences for the country's food supply. He urged the government to reconsider its actions and prioritize the well-being of farmers and the people of Pakistan.