ISLAMABAD: The Finance Ministry told National Assembly on Monday that Punjab received 83.9 per cent of agricultural loans disbursed by Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in fiscal year 2025-26, while Balochistan got a mere 1.1 percent, highlighting a stark regional imbalance in agricultural credit.
The bank disbursed Rs99.443 billion during the year, of which Rs83.459 billion went to Punjab, compared with Rs9.295 billion to Sindh, Rs3.891 billion to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Rs1.1 billion to Balochistan. Gilgit received Rs1.364 billion, while Muzaffarabad received Rs334 million.
In a written reply to a question by MNA Shahida Rehmani, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb attributed Punjab’s dominant share to its large agricultural base, higher demand for seasonal credit, extensive branch network and digitised land records, which facilitate ownership verification and loan processing.
Punjab accounts for 294 of ZTBL’s 501 branches nationwide, or about 59 percent of the network, the ministry said. It also accounts for 44 percent of subsistence farmers, according to the figures provided.
The regional disparity Is also reflected in agricultural lending across the banking sector. Citing Pakistan Agriculture Statistics for 2024-25, the ministry said all banks, including ZTBL, disbursed Rs2.045 trillion in Punjab, representing 79 percent of the national total of Rs2.577 trillion. Sindh received Rs453.359 billion, or 18 percent, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received Rs55.246 billion and Balochistan Rs9.511 billion.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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