600k wheat farmers offered Rs5,000 per acre

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the issuance of a wheat support price of Rs5,000 per acre to 600,000 farmers through the Kissan Card.

The farmers who do not have the Kissan Card will also be granted subsidy worth Rs5,000 per acre.

Presiding over a meeting, the chief minister said subsidy of billions of rupees would be given to the farmers for the next crop as well.

The participants of the meeting were informed that the farmers have utilised Rs36 billion to purchase agricultural inputs and disbursement of 60 per cent of the loans being issued for the purpose through the Kissan Card had been completed.

The farmers have repaid loans amounting to Rs22 billion obtained through the card.

The second installment of financial support has been issued to the farmers for the new crop through the Kissan Card.

The participants were informed that 50 per cent of the applications received for the wheat support programme had been verified.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reviewed a solarisation scheme for agricultural tube wells. Proposals for the implementation of the wheat support programme were also reviewed.

A proposal to include contractors along with agricultural land owners in the scheme was also reviewed in the meeting.

Health projects

Chairing a meeting of the health and population department, the chief minister sought a plan for providing blood to patients across Punjab as per international standards.

She approved in principle a proposal to establish a thalassemia centre in each division. The centres will also be set up in 21 district and 15 tehsil headquarters hospitals.

The chief minister took a decision to implement a most effective central monitoring system for streamlining the health department in the province.

She ordered completion of the revamping of hospitals at the earliest. The revamp of 800 health centres should be completed by June 20, she said.

The CM directed the authorities concerned to establish an effective monitoring system for cleanliness and security services in the district and tehsil hospitals across Punjab.

The proposed projects of ten department for the next financial year were reviewed in detail in the meeting. As many as 71 projects of Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics and 75 of the Population Management and Family Planning Programme were also reviewed.

Projects for the rehabilitation of dispensaries, provision of equipment and furniture were presented.

A project for the production of oxygen and other essential gases in the province has been prepared.

A proposal to establish trauma centres equipped with the latest equipment in hospitals across Punjab was unanimously agreed.

The chief minister emphasised the need to hire trained staff to operate the medical machinery in government hospitals.

Chief Minister Mayram Nawaz also said In her message on the International Nurses Day, "The Punjab government is determined to ensure the dignity, respect and professional development of nurses in all government hospitals across Punjab."

She added, "The Punjab government is developing the nursing sector on modern lines. Language courses are also being conducted and all possible steps are being taken for the uplift of the nursing sector in Punjab."