Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed an important meeting on Thursday and reviewed the steps regarding implementation of the Agri Package 2016.
The chief minister said that a special package of Rs 100 billion is being given for the development of agriculture and prosperity of cultivators in the next two years.
He said that every penny of the Agri Package will be spent on the welfare of farmers and increasing per acre agricultural production. He said that the progress and prosperity of small farmers is priority. If farmers will prosper, Pakistan will progress, he added. He said that agriculture sector is of key importance in national economy and steps are being taken, with the consultation of farmers, for providing relief to them. Under Agri Package 2016, steps are being taken for providing relief to the farmers in the real sense, he added.
Sharif said that the package will leave a positive impact on agriculture sector. He said that progress of agriculture sector and prosperity of farmers is our mission and all out resources are being utilised for its accomplishment. He said that the implementation of Agri Package will result in increasing per acre yield and changing the fate of farmers. He said that an agriculture commission is being set up for providing relief to the farmers, development of agricultural sector and discharging other affairs relating to agriculture.
The chief minister said that the institutions concerned will have to work in a coordinated manner for achieving the fruits of this package. He said that the desired results can only be achieved from Agri Package while working with the spirit of hard work, devotion and passion. He said that agriculture is the backbone of national economy. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, government will continue to take solid steps for the betterment of agriculture sector. He said that we will have to move forward jointly for empowering the cultivators and promoting agriculture.
He said that Pakistan is an agrarian country; its land is fertile, its farmers are hard working and there is a great potential of agriculture in the country and we should benefit from it. He said that agriculture and research and development are linked with each other and universities and agriculture research institutions will have to pay full attention to the agricultural research.
Sharif said that provision of relief to the cultivators and redressing their difficulties is the responsibility of the government. Therefore, a big package of Rs 100 billion has been given for this purpose, he said. He directed to take such steps as could reduce production cost and increase cultivable area. He said that it is the responsibility of the government to take every administrative and financial step for the welfare of farmers and it will discharge it at every cost. He said that agricultural economy will have to be strengthened on permanent basis and small farmers will be enabled to stand on their own feet. He said that such steps will be taken as will directly benefit small farmers. He said that extension and research wing of agriculture department will have to be activated and there is a need for taking effective steps for curbing spurious pesticides.
