Former President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt, on Thursday, said politicians are busy resolving their problems and serving themselves instead of the people. Politicians are least concerned about the plight of the masses, inflation is increasing daily, putting an unbearable burden on the people and now the price of flour has been increased to an unprecedented level which is unacceptable, he said.
Shahid Rasheed Butt said that the flour crisis has been deliberately created in the country to take out trillions of rupees from the pockets of the starving people to fill the coffers of the elite.
The country that should have been one of the world’s largest agricultural exporters is importing food items worth nine billion dollars and the volume of imports is continuously increasing due to the lack of attention of the ruling elite.
The continued fall in agricultural output is evidence of failed policies and indifferent attitude of policymakers, he added.
The business leader said that one and a half million acres of land in the country which is forty percent of the total cultivable area, is affected by salinity and water logging and the recent floods have further damaged these lands.
In some areas, the level of underground water has risen so much that it has become difficult to bury the dead, he informed.
Shahid Rashid Butt said that all the institutions related to agriculture are causing harm instead of benefit and have failed to deliver for many decades, wasting public money.
Agricultural loans are not given to farmers and those who are facilitated include landlords, hoarders, and influential companies, which has eliminated the possibility of agricultural development.
Instead of relying on government institutions, fundamental changes should be made in the entire system, the exploitation of farmers should be stopped, and the private sector should be encouraged to participate fully.
Radical changes are required which will enable this agricultural country to feed its population and export the surplus, he said.
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Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt
Consul General Ghana
Former President ICCI
Former Patron ICST
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