Amraiz Khan Lahore
Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday sought a comprehensive plan for providing interest-free, soft loans to small farmers on the pattern of Akhuwat and directed to consult the Bank of Punjab as well.
It was decided to immediately transpose auction supervisory staff and reconstitute market committees across Punjab.
It was decided in a meeting chaired by Hamza Shahbaz at his office on Monday which was attended by Provincial Minister Sardar Awais Leghari, Bilal Yasin MPA, political assistants, administrative secretaries, commissioner Lahore and others. The supply and demand of vegetables were reviewed and the participants also deliberated on reducing the exploitative role of middlemen.
The CM directed to induct the best human resources in market committees for desired results and inquired the agriculture secretary about the performance of agri research institutes as enhancing the agri productivity without research would be a distant dream. A comprehensive report be submitted about the work done by the agri research institutes in recent years; he said and suggested seeking the private sector experts too.
A crop-insurance plan should also be devised; he stated and directed to take timely steps for import to overcome the shortage of onions and tomatoes in the coming days. The standard of facilities in markets would be improved.
The work should be done on an emergent basis for providing essential items at cheap rates to the people; he added and sought a report about cleanliness arrangements and other facilities in markets across the province adding that videos and pictures be sent to his office till night.
