Kissan Package: Shahbaz orders immediate assistance to farmers

Chief minister says initiative unprecedented in national history

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered the immediate initiation of assistance to small farmers across the province under the Prime Minister-announced Kissan Package.

Farmers cultivating rice and cotton on up to 12.5 acres of land will be provided Rs5,000 per acre under the package. The chief minister hailed the package as a revolutionary initiative conceived to provide relief to small farmers. He said an initiative of its ilk was unprecedented in national history.

The chief minister said over 160 centres had been established across the province to disburse payments among small farmers. Calling agriculture the backbone of the national economy, he said developing the sector would have a beneficial impact on it. The chief minister said the announcement of the package signified an important step towards strengthening the agriculture sector and ensuring the welfare of small farmers. Sharif said national prosperity was contingent on farmers’ welfare. He said the provision of relief to them under the package would have a positive impact on the agriculture sector.

Sharif said all steps should be taken to ensure that farmers were facilitated at payment centres. He said the cabinet committee should monitor progress on this front everyday. The chief minister said he would personally oversee the entire process.

He said the provincial government had initiated a series of projects to bring about development and prosperity in rural areas of the province. The chief minister said the projects would prove to be game changers with regard to the progress of the rural economy. Sharif also directed a proposal to establish an agriculture advisory board to be looked into. The chief minister also directed officials to take action against revenue officials involved in furnishing false data regarding small farmers.

The agriculture secretary briefed those present on the implementation of the package and the assistance distribution programme. Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Farrukh Javed, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and the chief secretary were also present on the occasion.

CM reviews progress on business seminar arrangements

The chief minister said convening an international seminar on promotion of foreign investment was of pivotal importance.

Sharif made the remarks at a meeting organised to review arrangements being made for a seminar on business opportunities in the Punjab. The chief minister said the initiative would encourage foreign investors to invest in the Punjab.

He said there were numerous investment opportunities in the agriculture, livestock, energy, mining, infrastructure and housing sectors. Sharif said both, local and foreign investors were being provided all facilities. The chief minister said an upward trend could be witnessed in the province due to investor-friendly policies and infrastructure development.  Sharif said stellar arrangements should be made for the seminar and an alternative traffic plan should be formulated to exclusively accommodate international delegates.

Senator calls on chief minister

Senator Saleem Zia called on the chief minister on Wednesday and felicitated him on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s victory in the first phase of the local government elections in the Punjab.

Sharif said the politics of the PML-N was premised on serving citizens. He said the party’s victory was a result of its honesty, diligence and transparency. The chief minister said the results of the elections demonstrated that the people wanted the policies of the government to continue. He said the party would strive harder over the forthcoming years.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2015.