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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
Business Recorder
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab's leadership: Azma terms Bilawal's statements ‘disrespect'
LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that Bilawal Bhutto used harsh language against Punjab's leadership in a rally, while if we merely ask questions, it is considered disrespect. Why do those who raise voices for Punjab's farmers fail to see the farmers of Sindh? If Punjab did not purchase wheat under its policy, it didn't leave the farmers helpless either. Punjab's farmers will be given a Rs. 100 billion package, Rs. 5,000 per acre, and a Rs. 25 billion wheat program, Azma said, adding: 'Punjab's farmers have been given Kisan Cards, thousands of tractors, and super seeders. Talking in rallies is easy, but no province has announced a support price for farmers.' While addressing a press conference at DGPR, Azma said those doing politics in the name of farmers' rights are today shedding crocodile tears for Punjab's farmers, while remaining completely silent on the poor condition of farmers in Sindh. She called Bilawal Bhutto's statements baseless and said, 'It's easy to politicize farmers' issues, but finding solutions is the real job of leadership.' She said it is unfortunate that no one has spoken about the condition of Sindh's farmers. Neither was a wheat price set there, nor were Kisan Cards issued. In contrast, the Punjab government has taken multiple steps under a comprehensive and transparent policy for the welfare of farmers, she added. Azma Bokhari said that a major financial package worth Rs. 110 billion has been allocated for farmers. Each farmer is being given Rs. 5,000 per acre. In addition, a Rs. 25 billion wheat support program has been launched. The farmer who grows the most wheat will receive a tractor worth Rs. 4.5 million for free, while the best farmer in each district will be awarded Rs. one million, she said. She further said that the private sector has been allowed to purchase wheat so that farmers can get immediate relief. Flour mill owners have been made bound to purchase at least 25% of the wheat. Alongside this, the Bank of Punjab is providing a Rs. 100 billion credit line for farmers, and purchases worth Rs. 55 billion have already been made through the Kisan Card. Azma Bokhari said that the Punjab government has so far provided 9,500 tractors to farmers, with Rs. 10 billion given as subsidy. An additional 5,000 super seeders will be provided, on which Rs. 8 billion subsidy will be given. The latest agricultural machinery being used across the world will also be purchased by the Government of Punjab and provided to farmers without profit so that agricultural productivity can be increased. She said the CM of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif gives personal importance to the interests of farmers, and the government is taking practical steps for the betterment of farmers and cultivators. A complete record is being maintained of the wheat moving out, and the government has a sufficient stock of wheat. The Government of Punjab cares not just for the farmers, but for the entire population of the province, she added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PML-N has delivered on 'its promises'
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, SAFRON, and President of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Engineer Amir Muqam, has said that under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, PML-N has once again delivered on its promise of development and relief for Pakistan and its people. Addressing a public gathering in Chota Lahore, District Swabi, Muqam said that the government saved Pakistan from default, ensured economic stability, and is now leading the country towards economic growth and prosperity. He added that, by the grace of Allah, inflation, which soared to 40 per cent during PTI's tenure, has now been brought down to four per cent. He credited Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif with providing relief to the people by reducing inflation. He emphasized that Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, and PML-N prioritized the nation's welfare over political considerations, rescuing Pakistan and its people from economic disaster. He accused PTI of ruining the economy, embezzling £190 million, and selling expensive foreign gifts in the market for personal profit. He further stated that in 2013, Nawaz Sharif eliminated load-shedding and terrorism from the country, but PTI's tenure brought back both the menaces. He added that from 2013 to 2018, Nawaz Sharif maintained record-low inflation and achieved highest development rates. He accused PTI of introducing a tsunami of corruption in Pakistan and K-P, questioning what change had come to the province after 11 years of PTI rule. He said that while PTI leaders prospered, the people of K-P continued to suffer. Despite changing three chief ministers, PTI only benefited its close allies, leaving the province's people neglected. He claimed that if PML-N had governed K-P, its youth would have received laptops, motorcycles, quality education, and job opportunities just like Punjab. He further stated that under PML-N, the poor in K-P would have received financial aid to build homes under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar program. Farmers would have been issued Kisan Cards, allowing them to benefit like their counterparts in Punjab. Muqam stated that only Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz talk about public service and development.
