Farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Stand Against Hydropower Projects
Farmers in Charsadda and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan are opposing the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization’s (PEDO) plan to build hydropower projects on irrigation canals. They believe these projects will destroy the irrigation system and harm their livelihoods.
Meeting of Farmers
The Mazdoor Kissan Party (MKP) organized a meeting near Charsadda, which included farmers from Mardan, Kohat, Malakand, and Bannu. The farmers discussed the potential negative impacts of the proposed projects.
Statements from Leaders
Shamas Khan, the vice-president of MKP, stated, “Farmers across the province had rejected the hydropower projects to be launched by Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization and termed it an economic murder of the poor growers.” He highlighted that 22 percent of Pakistan’s GDP is based on agriculture, which relies heavily on the canal systems for irrigation.
Protest Plans
The farmers are planning a sit-in protest against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and an international bank that would fund the projects. They are determined to oppose the projects at all costs.
Doubts Revealed
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in Pakistan. It’s located in the northwestern part of the country, near the border with Afghanistan.
Hydropower Projects -: Hydropower projects use the energy of flowing water to generate electricity. They often involve building dams or other structures on rivers or canals.
Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization -: The Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization is a group in Pakistan that plans and builds energy projects, like those that generate electricity from water.
Irrigation Canals -: Irrigation canals are channels that carry water to farms to help grow crops. They are very important for farmers, especially in dry areas.
Mazdoor Kissan Party -: The Mazdoor Kissan Party is a political group in Pakistan that supports the rights of workers and farmers. ‘Mazdoor’ means worker and ‘Kissan’ means farmer in Hindi and Urdu.
Vice-president Shamas Khan -: Shamas Khan is a leader in the Mazdoor Kissan Party. As vice-president, he helps make decisions and lead the group.
Sit-in Protest -: A sit-in protest is when people gather and sit in one place to show they are unhappy about something. They stay there until their concerns are heard.