Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that timely decision of increase in the support price of wheat to Rs 1,300 per 40 kg, slapping of 20 per cent of regulatory duty on import of wheat and decrease in the petroleum prices particularly in the price of diesel, will reap huge dividends to farmers as they will earn an estimated extra income of Rs 3500-5000 per acre. This would have a salutary effect on the quality of their life, the PM, said and assured that the agriculture sector would be protected and encouraged so that the objective of food security in the country could be attained.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the prime minister said the government was fully cognizant of the problems of the people and was taking comprehensive long-term measures to significantly enhance their living standard by providing them all basic facilities of life.
This increase in the support price of wheat which was above the prevailing international price of wheat would encourage the agriculture sector as a uniform support price would provide a level playing field to all farmers in the entire country and thus encourage them to bring more land under cultivation, Nawaz said. Similarly, the recent reduction in oil prices will benefit the masses particularly the agriculture sector as it would reduce the cost of input, he emphasised.
The prime minister said that the present PML (N) government had taken a series of measures to encourage the agriculture sector in the country. Earlier, the prime minister recalled that in January this year the government had decided that imported as well as locally manufactured urea would be available at Rs 1,786 per bag and these rates would be stamped on each bag. The decision was taken to remove corruption due to difference in prices of imported and local urea and also to end exploitation of farmers by the middleman. It is pertinent to add that a middle man repacked imported urea and sold it out as locally manufactured thus pocketing the subsidy meant for farmers.
The prime minister said the government was bearing a subsidy of Rs 747 per bag as the present estimated cost of imported bag is Rs 2,527. He also said that a special subsidised tariff for electricity rates of Rs 10.35 per unit was being provided to the farmers eliminating peak time charges which were higher, so that their input costs were protected. The PML-N government, by affecting a uniform tariff of Rs 10.35 per unit for agricultural tube wells, has insured a reliability of input to the farmers.
The federal and provincial governments are procuring wheat from the farmers to ensure that not only they get correct price of their produce but also have sufficient stocks for the government for supplying to flour mills so that they can intervene to maintain a stable price of flour in the country.
The prime minister said that the present government was also working with full zeal to complete major infrastructure projects to achieve the goal of a better Pakistan by enhancing employment, generating economic activity and reducing poverty.