Belarus offers Punjab tractor plant

Ambassador also informs CM of interest in electric bus project

LAHORE:

A decision has been made to set up a tractor assembling plant in Punjab with the cooperation of Belarus.

During a meeting with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Ambassador of Belarus Andrei N Metelitsa also offered assistance in an electric bus project.

According to a statement, matters pertaining to promotion of relations between the two countries along with promoting agriculture, trade and tourism were discussed in the meeting.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on the occasion, "The Punjab government is providing incentives and facilities to the foreign investors. We want to promote agriculture and other sectors in Punjab by working jointly with Belarus."

She added, "The Punjab government wants to benefit from the experience of Belarus in the production of agricultural machinery, especially tractors. We want to increase bilateral relations between Pakistan and Belarus along with enhancement of trade."

Ambassador Metelitsa said, "A transit route for trade and a corridor through roads would be welcome for the region."

Belarus Trade Consular Ilya Kanapliou also participated in the meeting.

The ambassador of Belarus also met the Punjab agriculture and transport ministers, the transport secretary and the president of the Bank of Punjab to determine a road map for the promotion of bilateral trade.

The meeting between the diplomat and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani focused on agri-mechanisation, high-power tractors, modern agricultural machinery, and research and development.

Kirmani said on the occasion that the Punjab government desired to benefit from the experience of Belarus in the field of agriculture.

He said the Punjab government would provide ample facilities to investors from Belarus for the installation of a heavy tractor plant in the province.

He said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had allocated Rs400 billion for a 'Transforming Agriculture Programme' through several projects like Kissan Card, Green Tractor and solarisation, which will paved the way to increase the per acre production of crops.

Minister Kirmani highlighted that the Punjab government had allocated Rs30 billion for proving 'Green Tractors' to farmers on subsidy. In the first stage, 9,500 Green Tractors will be provided to the farmers. The provincial minister said the locally manufactured tractors and harvesters were less efficient as compared to international standards, which led to post-harvest losses.

Belarus should introduce modern multi-purpose harvesters in the province to enable the harvesting of both wheat and rice crops with minimum losses, he said and added, "In addition, your support is required for the availability of tractors of more than 85 horsepower for agricultural mechanisation in Punjab." The provincial minister said the Punjab government also intended to provide modern agricultural machinery on rent to facilitate the farmers.

He said the Punjab government would set up Agri Malls in Multan, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Bahawalpur under the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), where farmers would be provided quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides under one roof at fixed rates.

With additional input from APP