LAHORE, Feb 10: PML-Q central leader Pervaiz Elahi says agriculture which is backbone of the national economy has reached the brink of disaster owing to lack of attention by the Punjab government which, he alleged, is busy in victimisation of opponents.

At a meeting of Punjab Assembly members at his residence on Tuesday, he said: “Rulers are busy in vindictive activities and have no time to focus on the problems of growers who are holding demonstrations for non-availability of inputs.”

He said the official rate of urea was Rs630 per bag, but it was not available for even Rs1,200. He said owing to lack of availability of fertiliser and paucity of diesel, water and electricity, wheat crop had not only been badly damaged but had also been sown on less area than the target set in this regard.

He alleged the provincial government which was responsible for distribution of fertiliser had given a free hand to its favourites for black marketing.

The PML-Q leader warned that this state of affairs on the one hand would cause a loss to growers while on the other production would be less than target, and people would face problems in getting flour despite arrival of new crop in the market.

Pervaiz Elahi announced that his party would extend full cooperation to nazims to make their March 7 convention a complete success. He asked the MPAs to ensure participation of a maximum number of councillors and nazims in the convention.

He appreciated participation of the MPAs who had ‘gone away’ owing to coercion and victimisation by rulers, and said: “You are our old friends and we have the same respect and regard for you as we had earlier.”

The meeting was attended by MPAs Amir Sultan Cheema, Col Muhammad Abbas (retd), Chaudhry Muhammad Yar Heraj, Chaudhry Ejaz Shafi, Dr Muhammad Afzal, Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad, Sher Ali Khan, Muhammad Razwan, Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry, Muhammad Shafi Khan, Zafar Zulqarnain Sahi, Qamar Hayat Kathia, Abdullah Yousaf Warraich, Nasim Lodhi, Inbisat Khan, Majida Zaidi, Amina Ulfat, Ayesha Javed, Farhana Afzal, Khadija Farouqi, Qamar Amir, Samiah Amjad, Samina Khawar Hayat and Zobia Arbab besides leader of opposition in Punjab Assemby Chaudhry Zaheeruddin and Raja Basharat.—APP