Punjab Chief Minister formally inaugurate wheat harvesting campaign

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif today formally inaugurated Wheat Harvesting Campaign-2016 at Kazim Agri Farm in Sheikh Wahan Khairpur Tamewali, Bahawalpur. He personally operated the thrasher to inaugurate the campaign.

Later, addressing a big gathering of farmers, the Chief Minister said that with the grace of Almighty Allah and hard work of farmers a bumper wheat crop has been achieved this year as well. He said that the number of gunny bags has been increased from eight to ten per acre and small cultivators will be given preference in the distribution of gunny bags. He said that delivery charges per gunny bag have also been increased from Rs.7.50 to Rs.9.00.

The Chief Minister said that in order to facilitate the farmers, presence of representatives of cultivators at procurement centers has been made compulsory while immediate redressal of grievances of cultivators has been ensured through registration of farmers through computerized system and citizens’ feedback. He said that the support price of wheat has been fixed at 1300 rupees per maund. He said that 40 lakh ton wheat will be procured this year with a sum of Rs. 130 billion and procurement process has been started at 377 centers.

The Chief Minister also announced increase in subsidy on Sastay tractors for small cultivators. He said that subsidy of Rs. three lakh instead of Rs two lakh on Sastay tractors will be given to small farmers from next financial year. He also announced subsidy for small cultivators on diesel tube-wells and said that this subsidy will be given on 8.5 lakh diesel operated tube-wells from next year’s budget.

Shahbaz Sharif said that a historic package of Rs.100 billion has been given for the prosperity of farmers and development of agriculture sector and every penny of this package will be made available to the cultivators at their doorstep. He said that wheat procurement process has been made highly transparent and rights of small cultivators will be safeguarded at any cost. He said that the historic package of Rs. 100 billion will ensure prosperity of farmers during next two years.

Shahbaz Sharif said that sit-ins had failed in 2014 and these elements will not succeed in achieving their selfish interests this time also. He said that the elements involved in such tactics are afraid that completion of power projects will put an end to their politics and their sit-ins and protest reflects their desperation. He said that there is no allegation of corruption of even a single penny against Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

He said that there are also among those as are raising hue and cry over Panama Leaks as should be held accountable first. He said that Prime Minister has formed a commission on Panama Leaks and written a letter in this regard and now decision of the commission should be awaited. He said that these Khans and Tareens are misappropriating public money by getting their loans written off.

He said that ruthless accountability of the elements getting their loans written off and plundering national resources will be held. He said that time for accountability has come and this process will be completed transparently. He said that the fate of present conspiracy will not be any different from that of sit-ins of 2014.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he is ready to face any accountability if corruption of even a single penny is proved against him.

The Chief Minister said that load-shedding will be eliminated by the end of next year or the beginning of 2018. He said that construction work of Bahawalpur Hasilpur Road will be completed this year and funds will be provided for this purpose also this year.

Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Harmony Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Dr. Farrukh Javed, Malik Iqbal Channer, Assembly Members and farmers were present on the occasion.