Latest news with #GreenTractorScheme
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'PML-N also riding same-page horse'
In yet another political crossfire, Punjab information minister turned the guns on coalition partner PPP on Tuesday, this time pushing back against Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah's concerns about Punjab's farmers, advising the party to look in their own backyard before pointing fingers. Reacting to the unrelenting criticism by members of the ruling party despite PPP being a key player in the coalition setup, PPP Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan accused the PML-N of riding high on the "same-page-equation" horse just like the PTI once did. He claimed this was the reason PML-N showed little regard for a numerically commanding ally in the current setup. "As had happened to those on the throne before them, time would make them swallow their pride," he said. However, Chan remained optimistic that the issue regarding the canal would be resolved before things got out of hand. However, if push came to shove, "in the coming ten days, they would know that PPP was ready to walk the talk". When asked if quitting the coalition was the only card left in PPP's hand, he hinted otherwise. "The budget is around the corner, which would require their complete support. Before that, PML-N would resolve all pending issues." Chan termed the continual onslaught against his party as a sign of the PML-N's immaturity. "We are democratic, and we want this system to function uninterrupted. However, unlike PML-N, we are not beneficiaries of this system," he said. Earlier the same day, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari claimed Punjab's progress had become a thorn in the side of two provincial governments. She said that Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah appeared to be more concerned about the farmers of Punjab than those in his own province. The provincial information minister further asserted that Punjab's leadership was fully active in protecting and promoting the rights of Punjab's farmers, and that the province stood as a guardian of its agricultural community. "Are there no farmers in Sindh? Has the Sindh government set an official price for wheat? Has it purchased wheat from its farmers?" Azma's reaction came in response to Murad Ali Shah's recent press conference. She added that Shah and his party had been in power in Sindh for the past sixteen years, and that it was time they reviewed their performance and gave the public an account of their governance. She further accused Murad Ali Shah of supporting protestors who were blocking the main highway connecting Punjab and Sindh, calling it "deeply regrettable". Highlighting Punjab's efforts, Azma Bokhari said that in just one year, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had provided historic packages worth Rs110 billion to farmers. These included the Kisan Card, the Green Tractor Scheme and modern agricultural equipment like the Super Seeder.
Express Tribune
25-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
'Green tractor scheme hurting industry'
Listen to article The Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) has raised serious concerns over the Green Tractor Scheme, warning that it is destabilising the tractor parts industry, disrupting cash flows, and putting thousands of jobs at risk. PAAPAM Chairman Usman Aslam Malik underscored the sector's importance, noting that over 250 small and medium engineering units in Punjab employ more than 35,000 skilled workers directly and over 300,000 indirectly. Local manufacturers supply over 900 of the 1,000-plus components required for tractor assembly, playing a crucial role in Pakistan's agro-economy. However, the subsidy model has caused industry volumes to plummet, with tractor sales reaching a decade-low. Announced in May and launched in October, the scheme failed to align with the natural sales cycle of tractors. Farmers delayed purchases, anticipating a Rs1 million subsidy per unit, severely affecting sales during the Kharif season. The government's decision to reduce the scheme's scale from 30,000 to 10,000 tractors further destabilised the market, while delays in fund disbursement to assemblers worsened cash flow challenges. Uncertainty over future subsidies has made farmers hesitant to buy tractors, impacting ongoing sales. Malik criticised short-term, politically driven subsidies for causing more harm than good.
