Interest-free loans given to 173,000 farmers

LAHORE: As many as 173,000 small farmers have been given interest-free loans in a period of 10 months under the Khadim-e-Punjab Kisan package.

A spokesman for the Punjab Agriculture Department disclosed this on Saturday. He said Rs40,000 per acre were being given for Kharif, while Rs25,000 for Rabi. Interest-free loans of Rs100 billion were being given to farmers who have 12.5 acres of land, he added.

The spokesman said 600,000 farmers would be given loans in Punjab and farmers who have five acres of land were given loans on priority basis. "Interest-free loan would be given for the next crop if the previous loan is timely paid," he added.He said registration date has been extended till Nov 30.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2017.