KARACHI: A farmers’ association protesting at Bilawal Chowrangi attempted to move towards Bilawal House following which police used force to disperse the demonstrators.
The farmers were protesting against the sugarcane rate set by the government. Due to security reasons, both roads in front of Bilawal House were closed for traffic.
The police attempted to disperse the protesters by conducting a baton charge and using water cannons. Several protesters have been detained by the police as well.
Traffic around the site of the protest was adversely affected.
On November 29, the Sindh government, after a month-long delay, fixed the official procurement price of sugarcane and announced commencing its crushing season. The price at which the crop will be made available to buyers was fixed at Rs182 per 40kg (maund).
However, despite the fixing of the price, the sugar mills are yet to begin crushing of the crop.
The decision was taken by the Sindh Sugar Cane Control Board in a meeting presided over by Sindh Agriculture and Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal.