Kissan Board Urges Immediate Action Over Alleged Rs1 Billion Farmers’ Dues

The Kissan Board Pakistan (KBP) has appealed to Pakistan's top civil and military leadership to intervene in the alleged non-payment of nearly Rs1 billion owed to farmers, warning that prolonged delays in recovering the money have deepened financial distress in an agriculture sector already burdened by rising costs and economic pressures.

Addressing a press conference, KBP leaders alleged that a single individual had withheld approximately Rs1 billion belonging to farmers and landowners, leaving affected growers struggling to recover their funds despite years of efforts. They described the situation as intolerable and called for immediate measures to ensure repayment and legal accountability. KBP President Sardar Zafar Hussain Khan, Senior Vice President Chaudhry Manzoor Gujjar, Chaudhry Akhtar Farooq, and other representatives stated that the affected farmers had suffered substantial financial losses while attempting to reclaim what they described as their hard-earned money.

The organisation further alleged that the accused individual had intimidated victims by claiming close family connections with senior state officials and issuing serious threats, creating additional obstacles for those seeking redress. The KBP urged Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and the Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to take immediate notice of the matter. The organisation called on the authorities to ensure the protection of affected farmers, facilitate the recovery of the outstanding funds, and initiate strict legal action against those found responsible.

The farming body argued that growers are already facing mounting financial pressures due to inflation, the broader agricultural crisis, and escalating production costs, including higher electricity tariffs, diesel prices, and fertiliser expenses. Against that backdrop, it said, any alleged financial exploitation of farmers further weakens an already vulnerable sector.

KBP maintained that every rupee owed to the affected farmers should be recovered and repaid in full, stressing that confidence in the agricultural economy depends on timely justice and effective enforcement of the law. The organisation also warned that if prompt action is not taken, it reserves the right to launch a nationwide campaign comprising legal proceedings, public mobilisation and protest activities to press for the recovery of the disputed funds.