A high-level meeting, held at Agriculture House, Lahore, Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, reviewed the progress of the Chief Minister, Punjab’s Kissan Package, the ‘Grow More Wheat’ campaign, and other key projects. Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo was also present.
During the briefing, the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani was informed that, under the directives of the Chief Minister, Punjab, a facility for farmers to withdraw 30 percent cash through the Kissan Card has been made available. Farmers from non-digitized areas can also apply for the Kissan Card. To date, over 13 lakh farmers have applied for the Kissan Card, with the Bank of Punjab completing the scrutiny of over 500,000 applications. Through the Kissan Card, purchases worth PKR 27 billion have been made in the province, including PKR 12 billion spent on DAP fertilizer. Overall, 91percent of fertilizer purchases have been facilitated through the Kissan Card.
The Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani highlighted that the Kissan Card has provided timely agricultural inputs for wheat cultivation through interest-free loan schemes, rescuing the farmers from middlemen exploitation. He directed strict monitoring of the purchase process under the Kissan Card and immediate action against dealers overcharging or creating artificial shortages of seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural medicines. Farmers can report any complaints regarding the Kissan Card to the Punjab Agriculture Department’s helpline at 0800-17000. Under the Chief Minister, Punjab’s Green Tractor Program, allotment letters have been issued to 9,382 of the 9,500 successful applicants. Of these, 7,110 farmers have deposited their share of the payment with banks, and 1,280 tractors have been manufactured.
