Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting here Wednesday, in which he reviewed, in detail, the budget for the fiscal year 2017-18. The CM was of the view that priority should be given to the agriculture sector.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that the budget for the next fiscal year will be reflective of the aspirations of the people of the province. Relief will be given, he added, to the people of the province in the budget.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the agricultural sector is of great significance for the development of the economy. He said that a large chunk of the population of Punjab is associated with this sector, which makes it even more imperative for the government to prioritise it. He said that resources will be allocated for providing relief to the farmers.
CM said that the Punjab government has for the first time in the history of Pakistan, started a programme for the provision of interest-free loans to the farmers to provide them with relief. This programme, he added, was mainly to support the small farmers.
Similarly, CM said, subsidy on fertilisers has been given to the farmers. He said that the reduction in electricity tariff on tube-wells and availability of agricultural tools on the concessionary rates has left positive impact on the agricultural sector.
He said that Pakistan will progress only with the prosperity of the farmers and in view of this fact; revolutionary steps have been taken for the promotion of the agricultural sector.
Provincial Ministers Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Naeem Akhtar Bhabha, chief secretary, Advisor Dr Umer Saif, chairman Planning and Development, secretaries and experts of the concerned departments were also present on the occasion.
