LAHORE: The Punjab government is fully committed to promoting modern agricultural machinery across the province, with an expenditure of Rs 66 billion over the past two years reflecting its strong resolve to modernise the sector.
This was stated by Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Punjab Usama Khan Laghari while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the programme titled “Transforming Punjab’s Agriculture through Climate-Smart Mechanization”, held here on Friday under the auspices of the Agriculture Department Punjab.
Laghari said the promotion of agricultural mechanisation is aimed at boosting farm productivity while significantly reducing the cost of production for farmers.
He added that the initiative forms a key component of the Chief Minister Punjab’s strategy to enhance agricultural efficiency and sustainability.
The ceremony was attended by Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Xiaoqin Emma Fan, Director Agriculture and Food Security for Central and South Asia Qingfeng Zhang, Special Secretary Agriculture Agha Nabeel Akhtar, Additional Secretary Agriculture (Task Force) Muhammad Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Deputy Secretary Agriculture (Planning) Kashif Bashir, Directors General of Agriculture Chaudhry Abdul Hameed and Naveed Asmat Kahloon, along with senior officials, service providers and a large number of farmers.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that Rs 36.12 billion would be spent under the programme on mechanised cultivation and harvesting of wheat and rice. He said farmers would be provided agricultural machinery at a 30 percent subsidy to encourage wider adoption of modern techniques.
He further announced the establishment of a dedicated training institute for agricultural machinery operators and mechanics, aimed at developing skilled human resources for the sector. Sahoo added that an Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Centre would be set up in Faisalabad, while a comprehensive digital database of farmers and service providers would also be developed.
In addition, he said a modern speed breeding laboratory would be established at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, to promote research-driven agricultural innovation.
Addressing the gathering, ADB Country Director Xiaoqin Emma Fan assured full cooperation in promoting climate-resilient agriculture in Punjab. She also appreciated the agricultural development initiatives launched by the Chief Minister Punjab, terming them aligned with sustainable growth and climate adaptation objectives.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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