Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif approves the inclusion of agriculture interns in the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” programme and presides over a special meeting to review key reforms in the agriculture sector.
During the meeting, she is briefed that export orders exceeding 500,000 tonnes have been secured for potato growers, bringing positive news for farmers. She approves increasing the monthly stipend of agriculture interns to Rs70,000.
The meeting decides to introduce a “Rooftop Hydroponic” project for the first time in Punjab. Under the initiative, 280 to 350 plants can be grown on a two-marla rooftop using polythene sheets and specially designed structures, enabling cultivation of more than 10 types of vegetables. The hydroponic system is expected to yield up to 32 times higher production. Ten pilot projects are being launched in Lahore, with plans to engage housing societies.
The chief minister approves the solarisation of 10,000 diesel tube wells and sets a target to distribute 28,000 super seeders by 2028. She is informed that 400 mini dams have been completed under the Potohar Development Programme.
Under the “Transformation of Agriculture in Thal” initiative, 7 million acres of land are being made cultivable. She approves Phase IV of the CM Green Tractor Programme, announcing a subsidy of Rs1.5 million for high-horsepower tractors and directing that the subsidy for low-horsepower tractors be increased from Rs500,000 to Rs700,000.
For the first time, the meeting decides to introduce an “On-Farm Rain Harvesting” project through the construction of ground recharge wells to channel rainwater into the aquifer. In Lahore, Gujranwala and Gujrat, Rs 500,000 subsidy is being provided for 1,000 ground recharge wells, while 70 per cent subsidy is being given for 1,000 on-farm rain harvesting ponds.
Record sales of Rs462 million are achieved at Model Agriculture Malls in Multan, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Sargodha, with home delivery available within a 50-kilometre radius. Under the agriculture internship programme, direct outreach to 1.5 million farmers is carried out; 497 students secure private jobs while 102 start their own businesses through self-employment.
The chief minister directs inclusion of more farmers in the Kisan Card scheme and expresses satisfaction over a 98 per cent recovery rate. Under the CM Punjab High-Tech Mechanisation Programme, a target is set to provide 6,500 modern agricultural machines by 2028, including 500 wheat harvesters, 1,000 rice harvesters, 1,000 maize and silage harvesters, 2,000 transplanters and balers, and 2,000 high-horsepower tractors.
The meeting decides to repair 50 bulldozers through Heavy Industries Taxila, while the Punjab Agriculture Department is purchasing 50 new bulldozers.
Under “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar”, financial support of Rs50,000 per acre is being provided, along with assistance for land development and water reservoirs. The wheat cultivation target of 16.5 million acres is achieved, and production of 22.30 million metric tonnes is expected.
Separately, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday distributed keys to successful women candidates under the e-Taxi Scheme.
Under the scheme, 30 percent quota has been allocated for women, while the color of the vehicles of women drivers will also be different. The Chief Minister also distributed the keys of the vehicles to the successful women candidates.
The Chief Minister of Punjab said that Punjab has become the first province in the country to launch the e-Taxi Scheme and 1100 e-vehicles will be provided in the first phase. This project will provide decent employment opportunities especially to women.
Maryam Nawaz said that every woman in Punjab considers herself safe and the e-Taxi Scheme will also help in environmental improvement, green buses will be delivered to every tehsil of Punjab.
The Chief Minister said that work is being done day and night to eliminate smog and this time the smog situation in the province has improved, e-taxi can travel about 300 kilometers on a single charge.
Chief Minister further said that the price of bread and flour has not increased in Punjab during the last two years, Ramadan bazaars have been established in every tehsil and the province is the first province to start a free air ambulance service, inflation has been controlled and relief was provided to every citizen during Ramadan.