Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Punjab government has given a historic package of Rs.100 billion for progress of agriculture sector and prosperity of the cultivators. He said that implementation of this package will leave a positive impact on uplift of cultivators and promotion of agriculture within the next two years. Every penny of the agriculture package will be spent on the welfare of the farmers, he added.
The chief minister said that the basic aim of the historic package of 100 billion rupees is to increase per acre production and reduce difficulties of farmers, adding that solid steps will soon be announced for prosperity of cultivators and development of agriculture sector and relief will be provided to the farmers at their doorstep under the agriculture package. He said that prosperity of farmers is the top priority of the government and all out steps will be taken for providing relief to the cultivators.
He expressed these views while addressing a high level meeting. The meeting reviewed in detail the steps proposed for implementation of Agriculture Package-2016 announced for the development of agriculture and prosperity of farmers.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that farmers are his brothers who grow grain from soil, adding that the provision of relief to the cultivators and redressal of their difficulties is the responsibility of the government and for this purpose, a huge package of Rs.100 billion has been reserved. He said that with a view to promote agriculture and increase per acre production, decision has been made to increase subsidy on tractors from two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand rupees from next financial year. He said that interests of small farmers will always be protected and added that no compromise would be made on protection of their rights.
Shehbaz Sharif directed to take steps that could result in reduced production cost and increased cultivable area. While commenting on the proposal of provision of interest-free soft term loans to small farmers, Shehbaz Sharif said that provision of interest free loan will prove to be a great step for small cultivators. Therefore, final recommendations should be presented at the earliest for implementing the proposal.
CM chairs meeting on health sector:
Separately, Shehbaz Sharif has given approval to the steps for removing shortage of doctors and providing best medical facilities at rural and basic health centres in far-flung areas of the province under which, decision has been made for giving relaxation in age limit for recruitment of doctors in these centres. The same procedure will be adopted for the recruitment of consultants, he added.
The chief minister also gave approval to setting up of bio-medical workshop in South Punjab and constitution of health councils in hospitals and rural and basic health centres.
He was presiding over a meeting held to review progress of reformation programme continuing for the betterment of health sector today. The meeting reviewed various matters including provision of quality medical facilities to the people, removing shortage of doctors, provision of free medicines and transparency of process of procurement.
Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said that provision of best medical facilities to the people is top priority of the government and a comprehensive strategy is being evolved for this purpose. He said that like big cities, people of far-flung areas also have a right to modern medical facilities and decision has been taken to take important steps for removing the shortage of doctors in rural and basic health centres so that medical facilities could be provided to the common man at his doorstep.