CM in Sahiwal: ‘Kissan Package will provide immediate relief to growers’

Shahbaz Sharif distributes cheques among farmers in Sahiwal

SAHIWAL:

The government is working swiftly to implement PM’s Rs341 billion relief package for farmers, said Chief Minster Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday.

He was addressing a cheque distribution ceremony at Jinnah Hall in Sahiwal. Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah and Peer Khizar Hayyat Shah were also present.

“The Kissan Package is meant to provide financial help to small cotton and rice farmers. They are being paid Rs5,000 per acre. Fertiliser will also be provided at subsidised rates to cultivators,” he said.

The chief minister said that it was the duty of the government to support the farmers. “The government is making efforts to provide assistance to all farmers in need of it,” he said.

He said that the government had started Khadim-i-Punjab Rural Roads Programme in Sahiwal division. “Better roads will ensure the speedy transportation of cotton and rice from fields to markets,” he said.

The chief minister said Sahiwal division would get Rs900 million for the rural roads programme.

The chief minister said that the government was also working to provide clean drinking water to people living in rural areas. “Rs15 billion has been allocated for the project. Under this project, water filtration plants will be set up in all villages to save the residents from water-borne diseases,” he said.

The chief minister urged members of parliament to serve the masses. “It is your responsibility to resolve the problems of your people. You will be held accountable. In the next elections, party tickets will be given only to those who have served the masses and solved their problems,” he said.

The chief minister appealed to the people to elect honest candidates in the next phase of the local elections.

Sahiwal DCO Asif Iqbal Chaudhry said that Rs329 million would be distributed among 20,273 farmers in Sahiwal division.

MoU

Separately on Wednesday, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Chinese and Punjab governments for the establishment of an integrated command, control and communication (IC3) system in select districts of the province.

China International Department II General Manager Tian Taobin and Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Chairman Dr Umar Saif signed the agreement. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also present.

Under to the agreement, a Chinese public sector company, CETC International, will help the PITB identify areas where technology solutions pertaining to security and surveillance are needed.

Dr Saif said that the IC3 system was being deployed to help Lahore police. “It is bringing together various elements of police operations and helping them work as a better unified team. Now as the project is being extended to other cities of the province, the CETC expertise will prove a great support,” he said.

Taobin said that Pakistan’s role in war on terrorism was very important. “We are happy to be playing a part in making the lives of Pakistani people safer,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2015.