RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: Under CM Punjab Kissan Package, the interest free agriculture loans of Rs525.18 million have been distributed among the 7051 small farmers of the district so far and the registration of farmers under e-credit scheme is underway at the land record center of the district. It was revealed during a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Salman Ghani, in which the pace of implementation on CM Kissan Package was reviewed.

Director Agriculture Ch. Abdul Hameed briefed the meeting about the advancement of interest free agriculture loans, registration of farmers under e-credit scheme at departmental action against canal water theft incidents. The meeting was informed that the small farmers would be provided interest free loans of Rs80 billion throughout the Punjab province for which target have been set for registration of 25000 farmers of the district. Under Kissan Package, Rs40,000/= and Rs25,000/= per acre have been provided for the Khareef and Rabi crops respectively and Special Advisory counter have been set up at the land record center to provide free e-pass book to the farmers along with facility of registration. The meeting was informed that committees at tehsil level were working under the supervision of concerned Assistant Commissioner in order to check the canal water theft incidents.

District Public Prosecutor informed the meeting that 146 challans of canal water theft cases had been presented to the courts and 53 cases among these had been decided by the concerned courts. Deputy Commissioner Salman Ghani, while reviewing the matters of Kissan Package implementation said that the farmers should be provided all out benefits and proper monitoring was being carried out for ensuring best departmental performance.

He asked the officers of Zari Taraqiati Bank, National Bank, Tameer Bank and Akhuwat Micro Finance to provide the entire data of advancement of loans and applications of farmers under process. He expressed his displeasure over the complaints of canal water theft incidents and directed the irrigation department officers to nominate those staff of members in the FIRs with whose connivance the crime of water stealing was committed. He said that proposals for making the measures against canal water theft more effective be devised for submitting to the government of the Punjab.