LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said the agricultural sector is of paramount importance for the country's economy as well as for prosperity of farmers.
He stated this while talking to a delegation of the PML-N here on Sunday.
He said possible resources for promotion of agriculture was being utilised and it was the need of the hour to modernize the agricultural sector and furnish it with most recent patterns to make farmers well-off.
He said that Pakistan was an agrarian country as its soil was exceptionally rich and there existed tremendous potential in farming segment which should be used for the best.
Development and progress of farmers was very first priority as prosperous farmers were assurance to developed Pakistan that was why the government had taken steps to provide relief to farmers with their consultation, he added.
Shehbaz Sharif said: "Our government has given Special Kisan Package worth billions of rupees for the development of farmers and agriculture".
The foundation of green revolution had been laid through the Kisaan Package and every penny of it was being disbursed for the welfare of cultivators and increasing per acre productivity, he added.
This package had left positive impact on the agriculture sector and farmers were being provided with their due rights through the Kisaan Package, he added.
He said a substantial sum of Rs 140.50 billion had been allocated in the next fiscal year for agriculture, irrigation, livestock, forests, fisheries and food while overall reduction in fertilizer prices would be maintained for farmers' prosperity.
The Punjab government had decided to pay sale tax of more than Rs 6 billion on agriculture tube-wells for improving the living standard of small cultivators, he shared.
He said:" It is our responsibility to take every administrative and financial step for the well-being of farmers".
Shehbaz Sharif said setting up Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority in the province was an imperative measure that would provide quality medicines and food to its people.
It would be operational completely by this year and assume its successful part to supply farmers with standard pesticides, he added.
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