Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the immediate commencement of wheat procurement at Rs3,500 per maund along with the provision of free gunny bags worth Rs6 billion for farmers across the province, terming it a major step towards strengthening the agricultural economy.
Chairing a special meeting to review wheat procurement arrangements, distribution of gunny bags and progress on the Green Tractor Scheme, here on Tuesday, the CM directed that procurement be initiated without any delay and decided in principle that priority would be given to farmers registered under the Kissan Card system.
She further instructed that payments to farmers must be ensured within 72 hours of procurement at the notified rate, while strategic management committees would be established at provincial and divisional levels to supervise the entire procurement process.
The meeting was informed that 88 per cent of farmers have expressed confidence in the provincial government’s agricultural initiatives.
The CM also announced the launch of the “Work with Punjab Government” programme under which agriculture graduates and other educated youth would be provided internship opportunities.
Officials briefed that Rs100 billion in loans had been disbursed through the Kissan Card, with a 99 per cent recovery rate, while nine lakh farmers have been registered under the scheme. The Chief Minister directed that the registration process be further accelerated.
It was further informed that under the Green Tractor Scheme, a target of 30,000 tractors had been set, out of which 20,000 have already been delivered to farmers, while local manufacturing, including harvesters, is also being promoted in collaboration with industry.
The CM reiterated that the government was fully committed to supporting farmers, adding that sustainable agricultural development was being ensured and that, by the grace of Allah Almighty, Punjab had witnessed a genuine agricultural revolution over the past two years.
Separately, Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the SL-4 Lahore Ring Road project and directed authorities to ensure timely and high-quality completion of all ongoing road infrastructure schemes across the province, while setting June 30 as the final deadline for their completion.
Chairing a special meeting to review major development initiatives in the road sector, here on Tuesday, the chief minister also sought weekly progress reports from relevant departments to ensure strict monitoring of all projects.
She directed officials to expedite work on the Multan-Vehari Road and stressed the need for maintaining construction quality. The meeting was informed that base and sub-base work on the province’s first “dust-free road” has been completed, while asphalt laying is currently in progress.
The meeting granted in-principle approval for Phase II of the Sialkot Ring Road, which will extend from Wazirabad Road to Sialkot-Pasrur Road. A proposal for the Thal Expressway project, connecting Bhakkar and Layyah with the M-4 Motorway, was also presented for consideration.
Progress on the Rawalpindi Signal-Free Corridor was reviewed, where officials briefed that the project includes seven underpasses and one overhead bridge.
The CM emphasized that all projects must be completed within the stipulated timeframe and directed focused monitoring of key schemes, particularly the Multan-Vehari Road project.
Officials informed the meeting that 2,143 road sector projects have been initiated across Punjab, including 258 currently under completion, while 376 projects have already been completed. The review also covered 133 ongoing projects under the Chief Minister’s development programme and 125 additional schemes.
Under the Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase I, 85 schemes were launched, of which 38 have been completed and 47 are underway. In Phase II, 43 schemes were initiated, with 18 completed and 25 in progress.
The CM added that for the first time in Punjab’s history, more than 12,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed or rehabilitated. She said special attention has been given to rural link roads, adding that improved road infrastructure would strengthen connectivity between farms, markets, factories and commercial centres. She stressed that equitable development and prosperity depend on strong road connectivity in every city and village, while also directing that plantation be ensured alongside road development projects.
A pictorial briefing on the Lahore Tourism Highway was also presented during the meeting. The CM said that all road sector projects must be completed by June 30 under strict monitoring.