Zamindar Action Committee Balochistan Announces Strict Course of Action Against Government Neglect, Illegal Taxes, and Ban on Urea Fertilizer Supply

Quetta (Daily Qudrat) — The Zamindar Action Committee Balochistan has expressed concern over the lack of progress by the government on the landowners’ 6-point charter of demands, the illegal smuggling of agricultural commodities, the ban on the supply of urea fertilizer, the so-called agricultural tax, and the electricity situation in rural areas, and has announced an effective and organized struggle to resolve these issues.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the Zamindar Action Committee Balochistan held on Monday at the central office in Quetta under the chairmanship of Chairman Malik Naseer Ahmed Shahwani. The meeting was attended by General Secretary Haji Abdul Rehman Buzai, Haji Noor Ahmed Baloch, Syed Abdul Qahar Agha, Haji Sher Ali Mushwani, Haji Aziz Sarprah, Kazim Khan Achakzai, Syed Siddiqullah Agha, Abdullah Jan Mirzai, Abdul Ghaffar Kakar, Miraj Khan Mandokhail, Khaliq Dad Malkyar, Malik Asadullah Bangulzai, Arbab Muhammad Umar, Fazlur Rehman Baloch, Chairman Ismail Baloch, Mir Ahmed Bangulzai, Mohabbat Khan Loni, Abdul Wali, Nisar Ahmed, Haji Ismatullah Musa Khel, and executive members from various districts.

The meeting carried out a detailed review of the 6-point charter of demands presented to the government and the government’s lack of progress on it. Participants expressed concern over the smuggling of foreign agricultural commodities, alleged illegal collections in the name of new taxes, the ban on the supply of urea fertilizer, and other problems faced by landowners. Participants also expressed reservations over alleged collections under various names by stopping vehicles by administrative officers in Mastung, and raised the question as to under which law the provincial government is collecting lump-sum amounts in the name of tax. They said that where the government should be providing facilities and resources to landowners, new taxes are being imposed, and landowners are facing difficulties at the hands of Deputy Commissioners and administrative officers.

The meeting was told that on one hand there is a ban on the supply of urea fertilizer, while on the other hand the same fertilizer is easily available at 8,000 to 14,000 rupees. Participants raised the question that if the illegal sale and hoarding of fertilizer is continuing, why action is not being taken against those responsible. They said that an effective mechanism must certainly exist to prevent the misuse of fertilizer; however, a complete ban on supply will only put landowners in difficulties.

The Zamindar Action Committee decided that a technical committee has been formed to pursue legal proceedings against the so-called agricultural tax, which will include one representative from each district of Balochistan. The committee will determine the future course of action after consulting legal experts. The meeting decided that no district will pay taxes until the Zamindar Action Committee takes a decision at the central level. Speakers said that agriculture holds the status of a backbone in Balochistan’s economy, and a large population of the province depends directly or indirectly on agriculture and businesses associated with it. However, for the past several years, the agricultural sector has been afflicted by numerous problems, including climate change, natural disasters, water scarcity, expensive electricity, unavailability of fertilizer, and low prices of agricultural commodities.

The illegal arrival and smuggling of tomatoes, apples, grapes, onions, and other agricultural commodities from neighboring countries during the arrival of local crops, vegetables, and fruits to the market in Balochistan should be stopped immediately. Effective monitoring should be ensured at all check posts and entry routes, and priority should be given to the produce of local landowners in the market. In this regard, landowners are themselves ensuring the prevention of smuggling of foreign commodities.

Participants said that in the current situation, a bag of fertilizer that sells for 4,000 rupees is being sold for 8,000 to 14,000 rupees, while in some areas there are reports of fertilizer being sold from homes instead of shops. They demanded that effective action be taken against the artificial shortage, hoarding, and profiteering of fertilizer.

The Zamindar Action Committee demanded a fresh transparent survey of the damage caused to crops and orchards by heavy rains, hailstorms, floods, and strong winds from 2022 to 2026, and the provision of immediate financial assistance and compensation to affected landowners. Participants also expressed concern over the growing water crisis in Balochistan and said that the underground water level is continuously declining. The government should construct new small and large dams, carry out the cleaning and rehabilitation of existing dams and rainwater storage projects, and effective planning should be done to prevent rainwater from going to waste. The committee said that due to natural disasters, expensive electricity, fertilizer shortage, the water crisis, and low crop prices, landowners are already facing severe economic difficulties; in such a situation, the burden of additional taxes is unacceptable.

The committee demanded immediate tax relief for affected landowners, the elimination of unnecessary taxes imposed on the agricultural sector, and a special tax relief package for landowners affected by natural disasters.

The Zamindar Action Committee demanded that the government immediately implement the landowners’ 6-point charter of demands and hold meaningful negotiations with landowners’ representatives to resolve the problems of the agricultural sector. The meeting decided that if the charter of demands is not implemented, the path of protest and legal proceedings will be adopted, and a strict course of action will be announced at the next meeting. In this regard, a committee consisting of one representative from all districts has also been formed, which will decide matters related to legal proceedings as well as protest.