Agriculture tube wells: Punjab government to maintain subsidised rates of electricity

The Punjab government has decided to maintain subsidised rates of electricity for agricultural tube wells during next one year besides extending a huge subsidy of Rs 14 billion on fertilisers. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has conveyed this decision to the Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar that the government intends to maintain electricity prices for agricultural tube wells at Rs 10.35 for next one year.
The Chief Minister has also directed the quarters concerned to immediately evolve a policy for extending subsidy to the growers on fertilizer prices. The provincial government is working with full devotion to facilitate the growers and improving their economic conditions.
These views were expressed by the Punjab Minister for Agriculture Dr Farrukh Javed while talking to media persons after a high-level meeting here on Wednesday. He said the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Punjab also discussed various options for extend a subsidy of Rs 14 billion on the prices of fertilisers and also sought proposals from different departments.
The Minister said the directives were issued to formulate a policy in the light of these proposals at the earliest. He said the meeting also decided to maintain the subsidised rates of electricity for agricultural tube wells in the light of demand of the growers.
"The Punjab government continuing its farmer-friendly policy has accepted the demands of the growers and recommended to the federal government to announce final decision of maintaining subsidy on electricity and fertilizer prices for the growers," the minister claimed. The meeting was attended by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Food Security Sikandar Hayat Bosan, and Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali and concerned officers.