By Adeel Alvi | Regional Times of Sindh | September 6, 2023
Shikarpur: The Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek (PKMT) staged a protest demonstration in Shikarpur on Tuesday, decrying the prevalent inflation and dire economic conditions in the country. Speaking at the event, PKMT leaders Hakim Gul and others vehemently criticized the policies of the current government. They highlighted the worsening poverty and unemployment crisis gripping the nation.
The PKMT leader expressed deep concern over the influence exerted by international financial institutions like the IMF, asserting that their policies have resulted in severe hardships, particularly for rural and working-class communities. Soaring prices of essential commodities, including electricity, petroleum gas and food items, have placed immense burdens on the common people, particularly those from rural and working-class backgrounds. Factory closures have led to widespread joblessness, further exacerbating economic difficulties, rising poverty, and inflation.
Amid this backdrop, the speakers underscored the intensification of the feudal system and exploitation of rural and working-class women, contributing to economic hardships, bonded labor, food scarcity, and poverty. Persistent power outages and energy shortages have become unbearable for the populace.
Furthermore, the speakers criticized the misuse of national resources, including free electricity, gas, and unauthorized expenditures, which have placed undue financial burdens on the hard-working citizens of Pakistan.
The PKMT leaders emphasized that the combination of poverty, unemployment, and inflation has significantly disrupted the lives of ordinary citizens. The soaring price of essential goods, especially electricity, gas and petroleum, have disproportionately affected the working class population. They asserted that the current government’s economic and social policies have exacerbated societal issues and crime.
To address this crisis, the speakers called for immediate and decisive action. The urged the state to implement fair and equitable distribution of land and resources among rural and working-class populations. They also called for urgent tax reforms to ensure that wealthy landowners and multinational corporations pay their fair share of taxes.
The PKMT demanded that the government prioritize the interests of the working class and rural citizens and take concrete steps to alleviate their economic hardships.