CM Punjab approves ‘Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card’

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Friday approved ‘Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card’ in the province during a meeting on agricultural reforms.

In a meeting held on agricultural reforms under the chairmanship of Maryam Nawaz in Lahore, the reorganization of Punjab Seed Corporation, Punjab Agricultural Research Board was reviewed and it was decided to build a research center in Agricultural University Faisalabad with the cooperation of China.

During the meeting, the Agriculture Department was instructed to compile the complete data of production and demand of each crop and approval was also given to create a center of excellence for research and development on cotton, wheat and rice crops.

The meeting reviewed the proposed law to prevent the use of agricultural land for residential purposes and agreed to equip the Agricultural Extension Wing with modern technology and recruit 500 agriculture graduates in the Agricultural Extension Wing.

In the briefing given to the Chief Minister of Punjab during the meeting, it was stated that 24,800 latest agricultural implements will be given to the farmers at a cost of Rs7 billion in two years.

During the meeting, Maryam Nawaz while approving ‘Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card’ said: “Farmers will get rid of fake fertilizers and medicines, in the first phase a model agriculture center will be built in every district”.

According to the announcement of the meeting, 500,000 small farmers will be given a loan of 150 billion in a year on easy terms, Rs30,000 per acre loan will be given for the purchase of the best seeds, fertilizers, pesticides. To stop the sale of fake agricultural drugs and fertilizers, amendments will be made in the Act.

In the released declaration, it was stated that various types of subsidies will also be given through the ‘Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card’. Model Agriculture Centers will be built in collaboration with the private sector across Punjab which will provide the facilities of Genome Center, Germ Plasm Resource, Speed Breeding and Research on Climate Change.