Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced a massive package of over 341 billion rupees for the farming community.
Unveiling the package at a Kissan convention here on Tuesday, Sharif said the package envisages direct cash assistance to farmers, relief in prices of agriculture inputs, provision of agriculture loans and simplifying the procedure of loans.
“The package we are offering to farmers is not a favour, rather it is incumbent upon the government to do so. We want to lessen your pain,” the PM said while addressing farmers’ representatives.
He said: “With the cooperation of provincial governments, farmers will be provided Rs 5,000 per acre of land, totaling an amount of Rs 40 billion.”
He announced that the price of fertilizer would be reduced by at least Rs 500 per bag. He also announced that interest-free loans would be given out to farmers to convert tube-wells to solar energy.
He said under the relief package, a fund of Rs 20 billion would be set up to cut the prices of fertilizers. The package would provide a reduction in the service charges including fertilisers, pesticides, power for tube wells and tractors priced, he added.
He said that Pakistan’s economic indicators were improving while international organisations were also expressing confidence in the country. “This is not what the government is claiming rather this is what the world is saying now,” he added.
He said all the “big projects” in Pakistan were inaugurated by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The prime minister said Pakistan also witnessed progress in the field of defence besides the economic front. He said he had refused to accept a package of $5 billion offered to prevent Pakistan from carrying out nuclear tests.
“Had there been anybody else, they would have considered the offer as an opportunity to make money. We are not here to make money, rather we spend money from our own pockets,” he said.
The prime minister also announced exemption from income tax for farmers producing fruits, vegetables and grains. He said the government had decided to give cash assistance of Rs 5,000 per acre to the farmers having land of 12.5 acre.
Referring to the plight of cotton growers, the prime minister said floods and rains had inflicted heavy losses to the cotton farmers. Therefore, the government had decided to give cash assistance of Rs 5,000 to the cotton grower on the pattern of rice growers.
Sharif appreciated the farmers saying they were producing enough wheat to feed our 200 million people and surplus for exports. He said there was time when the country was unable to produce wheat for 30 million people. The prime minister said reduction in prices of commodities and increase in the prices of agriculture inputs had raised the cost of production.
Earlier, addressing the convention, Minister for National Food Security Sikandar Hayat Bosan said it was the priority of the government to decrease prices of agriculture inputs. He said steps were afoot to enhance per acre agriculture yield.
