Agriculture sector: CM approves interest-free loans for small farmers

Shahbaz Sharif inaugurates construction work on flyover in Raiwind

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday approved a scheme to provide interest-free loans to farmers.

Addressing a meeting held in this regard, Shahbaz Sharif said that the Punjab government had now fulfilled its promise to provide loans to farmers. “Billions of rupees will be lent to the farmers for Rabi and Kharif crops. Farmers with up to 12.5 acres of land will be eligible for the loans,” he said. The chief minister directed the Planning and Development Board chairman to consider setting up a Punjab Agriculture Foundation. Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Farrukh Javed, the chief secretary, presidents of the National Bank, the Bank of Punjab, Zari Taraqqiati Bank and Taameer Bank were present.

Flyover

The chief minister inaugurated construction work on a flyover in Raiwind. The project will be completed in six months at a cost of Rs1,046 million.

Talking to reporters, Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government would challenge the Lahore High Court (LHC) order disallowing construction on several segments of the metro train project in the Supreme Court.

“The Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project is for the common man. Once it is complete, 300,000 people will daily travel by the train. We are going to file an appeal in Supreme Court,” he said.

The chief minister said: “Lawyers for the so-called civil society and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf made baseless claims [during the hearing] that billions of rupees had been taken away from the project funds. I challenge them to prove a single penny worth of corruption in the development projects, including metro train.”

He said government lawyers would inform the SC that billions of dollars had been saved in the project. “Some political elements want to arrange a sit-in against the journey of honesty, transparency and hard work,” he said.

The communication and works secretary briefed the chief minister about the flyover project. The chief minister directed the officials to complete the flyover speedily. Afzal Khukhar, Saiful Malook Khukhar and Chaudhry Gulzar Gujjar were present.

Medical students

On the request of Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister has granted permission to students residing in Balochistan and holding domicile certificate of the Punjab to participate in entry test for medical colleges arranged by the University of Health Sciences. A one-day special relaxation has been granted to students who did not submit their applications for participation in the entry test for admission in medical colleges of the Punjab due to the Quetta bomb blast.

The University of Health Sciences will set up a special desk at Bolan Medical College, Quetta, on August 23 from 9am to 3pm to receive applications. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd,  2016.