Latest news with #IftikharAliSahoo
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab seeks tax relief for cotton industry
LAHORE: Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani disclosed on Wednesday that talks are underway with the federal government and the prime minister to remove income and sales tax from the cotton industry. He hoped that these taxes will be removed in the 2025-26 budget with the aim to make cotton farming more profitable for growers. The Minister was addressing a delegation of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association which called on him at the Agriculture House. Sharing the strategy adopted by the Punjab government this year to enhance sowing of cotton, the Minister informed the delegation that one million acres of land previously used for rice have been shifted to cotton this year. The Minister also threw light on Cotton Campaign 2025–26, early sowing, early operation of ginning factories, cotton pricing, taxation on local cotton, and the enforcement of the Cotton Control Act. During the meeting, the Cotton Ginners Association shared the challenges currently facing the industry. Member of Provincial Assembly Rana Saleem and Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Kirmani said that cotton is Pakistan's main cash crop. Following the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Agriculture Department has introduced effective measures across the province, especially in South Punjab, to revive and stabilize cotton production. As a result, cotton cultivation has improved significantly, and the area under cultivation has increased. He declared this year as the 'year of cotton revival.' To promote cotton farming, the Agriculture Department launched a strong awareness campaign. Between February 15 and March 31, an ambitious goal of sowing cotton on one million acres was set and successfully achieved - a milestone not reached in the last 10 years. So far, cotton has been cultivated on 3.3 million out of the targeted 3.5 million acres, and efforts continue to reach four million acres. The department conducts third-party verification to ensure transparency in meeting targets. The Minister urged ginners to adopt modern technology, noting that many factories still use outdated methods that reduce the international demand for Pakistani cotton. He stressed the need to upgrade ginning processes and assured full government support for introducing new technology in the sector. Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that this year, demonstration plots were established in South Punjab where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques were fully implemented. He also noted that the private sector took responsibility for supporting cotton farming at the tehsil level, setting a positive example. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab Agri Dept, Margalla Heavy Industries Taxila sign MoU
LAHORE: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed Monday between the Agriculture Department Punjab and Margalla Heavy Industries Limited, Taxila, to carry out the repair and maintenance of 20 bulldozers from the field wing of the agriculture department Punjab by the heavy industries. The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister for Agriculture Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo at a ceremony at the Agriculture House, Lahore. The MoU was formally signed by Director General Field (Agriculture), Sajid Naseer, and Chief Executive Officer of Heavy Industries Taxila, Brigadier Nadeem Ahmed. Brigadier Jawad (r) from Heavy Industries Taxila, Special Secretary Agriculture Agha Nabeel Akhtar, Additional Secretary Agriculture (Planning) Captain Waqas Rasheed, and Additional Director General (Engineering) Multan, Afzal Tahir were also present on this occasion. Following the signing ceremony, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Punjab, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, chaired a review meeting on the Chief Minister's Wheat Support Programme and Kisan Card Phase II. Speaking at the meeting, the Minister stated that under these programmes, disbursement of funds to farmers through the Bank of Punjab will commence on May 22. He was informed that 487,000 farmers have already repaid their loans under the first phase of the Kisan Card scheme. He emphasized that to benefit from all agricultural initiatives of the government, possession of a Kisan Card must be made mandatory. He further noted that the scope of Kisan Card Phase II has been expanded, increasing the loan limit to Rs300,000, eliminating transaction charges, and introducing a facility for diesel purchase. In addition to Kisan Card holders, other farmers are also applying for the wheat support program via the dedicated portal, with 250,000 applications already received. The deadline to apply for this program is May 31. Through the same portal, an additional 100,000 farmers can register for new Kisan Cards. A total of Rs10 billion will be distributed among 500,000 farmers under the wheat support programme. The Bank of Punjab has approved over 542,000 farmer applications for Kisan Card Phase II, and the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) has completed verification for nearly 500,000 of them. Iftikhar Ali Sahoo stressed the need to intensify the awareness campaign across social media, electronic media, and print media to ensure that more farmers can benefit from the government's loans and incentives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Punjab's Green Tractor push gets industry backing
Listen to article A meeting of senior officials from the tractor manufacturing industry was held at Agriculture House, Lahore, under the Chairmanship of Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo. According to a press statement released on Saturday, while addressing the participants, Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo stated that all possible resources and means are being utilised to implement farm mechanization across the province. Tractors play a fundamental role in this process. On this occasion, representatives of the tractor industry appreciated the Punjab chief minister's Green Tractor Programme. Sharing their views, they mentioned that the tractor industry had been facing a crisis for several years. Before the launch of the Green Tractor Programme, economic pressures had significantly reduced the operational capacity of the industry. This initiative helped in alleviating this crisis, they said. The statement adds that as a result of the Green Tractor Programme, agricultural productivity is expected to rise substantially. The programme also provides support to the local tractor manufacturing industry. Industry stakeholders further emphasised that agricultural mechanisation, in line with modern-day requirements, has become inevitable. The Green Tractor Programme will play a vital role in promoting farm mechanisation. The representatives added that a long-term strategy should be developed to support farm mechanisation. They reaffirmed their commitment to play their important role in advancing farm mechanisation in Punjab. During the meeting, the tractor industry representatives also presented proposals to the government of Punjab for the expansion and continuation of the Green Tractor Programme.
Express Tribune
08-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Punjab incentivises early cotton sowing
Listen to article Under the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a special package of Rs25,000 is being provided for cultivating cotton over five acres early in the season. Farmers are showing great interest in early planting of the crop, which has decreased significantly in season 2024-25. These views were expressed by Punjab Agricultural Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo while presiding over a review meeting on early cotton sowing at the Agriculture House, Lahore. He stated that the current weather was highly suitable for cotton sowing and a target of one million acres had been set for early cultivation in Punjab. "To achieve this target, all possible resources and means are being utilised under the Agricultural Department, Punjab." The secretary gave directives for accelerating activities to guide farmers on meeting the early cultivation goal. He emphasised that monitoring was ongoing to ensure the availability of seeds, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs in the market. He stated that only Triple Gene varieties should be recommended for early sowing, which would be a milestone in achieving the cotton production target. The meeting was attended by Special Agricultural Secretary Agha Nabeel Akhtar, Additional Agricultural Secretary Task Force Punjab Muhammad Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Agricultural Director Generals Chaudhry Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon and Dr Abdul Qayyum, Project Director Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali and other officials.
