Loans for growers: Balochistan CM vows to address issues faced by agriculture sector

Will hold meetings with finance minister, ADB president

QUETTA: While addressing a seminar on issues being faced by land owners and growers taken up on the special directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri said that he will talk to Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and the president of the Agricultural Development Bank on issues relating to non-provision of loans to landowners and growers in Balochistan and waiving-off of their previous loans.

Federal Minister for Food Security and Research Malik Sikandar Hayat Bosan, authorities of the said department, Provincial Adviser Ubaidullah Jan Babat, Chief Secretary Balochistan Saifullah Chattha and members of Zamindar Action Committee were present on the occasion.

Federal minister Bosan said that he had come to Balochistan on the special directives of the PM so that a solution could be thrashed out after undertaking consultations with the aggrieved.

The members of Zamindar Action Committee had earlier called on PM Nawaz and presented them a charter of their demands.

The shifting of agricultural tube-wells to solar power, agricultural loans, the Kissan Package, and import of seeds were discussed during the meeting.

CM Zehri said that the government was providing Rs22 billion subsidy to growers in the energy sector and by shifting the agricultural tube well to solar panels, the government would save this amount to promote the welfare of the masses.

He said that due to excessive use of water in Balochistan, underground water is depleting fast in and if it was not halted, Balochistan would be converted into a desert. He stressed the need for legislation and educating the masses and land owners in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2016.