RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Rs 100 billion would be utilized on the development of agriculture sector and welfare of farming community during next two years. He said that out of this amount 50 billion rupees will be spent in the coming financial year whereas 50 billion rupees will be utilized in the next fiscal year.

He said that the purpose of this historic agriculture package is uplift of agri. sector and betterment of farmers. He said that farming community will fully benefit from the splendid agri package of billions of rupees. He said that reduction in prices of fertilizers, power tariff of agri tube-well and agri implements will provide relief to the farmers in the real sense.

He expressed these views while talking to Assembly Members belonging to various districts in Punjab Assembly Chamber, here Friday. The Chief Minister said that federal and provincial governments have given a glorious package for the prosperity of farmers and its implementation will change the destiny of farmers while agriculture will flourish. He said that Punjab government will give interest free loans to small farmers having up to 12.5 acre of land. He said that Punjab government will pay mark-up on these loans and no burden will be put on cultivators.

Shahbaz Sharif said that a sum of five billion rupees has been allocated for cotton research as production of quality cotton seed is need of the hour to increase agri production. He said that a comprehensive strategy is also being adopted for provision of quality seed to cultivators. The Chief Minister said that a historic agri package of 100 billion rupees has been announced first time in the history of the country and its implementation will result in uplift of agri sector and prosperity of farmers. He said that it will be ensured that the benefits of agri package should reach the farmers.

The Chief Minister said that the target of the government is to increase per acre yield and prosperity of small farmers. He said that the agri package will also make up the losses caused by recession at the international level. He said that agriculture is the backbone of national economy and Punjab government has taken revolutionary measures for the development of agriculture sector and prosperity of farmers. He said that the goal of national prosperity can be achieved through development of agriculture, livestock and dairy farming. He said that promotion of agri technology can help in strengthening of these sectors.

He said that development of agriculture, livestock and dairy farming is essential for elimination of poverty and unemployment form the country. He said that besides research and development, transfer of the results of agri research to farmers is of vital importance.

Assembly members while paying tributes to Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for given a historic agri package for the welfare of cultivators and development of agri culture sector said that that they have won the hearts of farmers. Those who met the Chief Minister included Munawar Ahmad Gul, Sajjad Haider Gujar, Malik Ahmad Saeed Khan, Syed Muhammad Mehfooz Mashhadi, Lt. Col. Sardar Ayub Khan (retd), Raja Abdul Hanif, Chaudhry Zahid Akram, Naeem Ullah Gul, Qaider Iqbal Sandhu, Amant Ullah Khan Shadikhel and Ch. Muhammad Ashraf. Mansha Ullah Butt MPA was also present on the occasion.