LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday that the provincial government had decided to increase the quota of subsidised tractors for the farmers of South Punjab by 15 per cent.
He said the decision aimed at expediting the pace of agriculture development in South Punjab, besides ensuring provision of better agricultural facilities to the downtrodden farmers of the region. Now one of 7,453 people in South Punjab will get subsidised green tractor, while this ratio in the remaining parts of the province will be one of 11,177 people.
This decision was taken on the instructions of the chief minister at a high-level meeting held on Thursday to review the Green Tractors Scheme. The meeting was also attended by Special Assistant to Chief Minister Zaeem Hussain Qadri; chairman of Planning and Development Department; secretaries of Finance, Energy, Industries, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Higher Education and Information departments; and other high-ranking officials.
The chief minister said that priority with regard to provision of tractors was being given to the young farmers for promotion of the agriculture sector in the districts of South Punjab.
Shahbaz said under the Green Tractors Scheme, the quota for three divisions of South Punjab including Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan and for the districts of Bhakkar and Jhang had been increased by 15 per cent. “A total number of 4,518 tractors are being distributed in 13 districts of South Punjab, as compared with 5,482 tractors being distributed in the remaining 23 districts of the province,” he informed.
The chief minister said that the Punjab government was giving a subsidy of Rs200,000 on each tractor, while 10,000 tractors would be distributed during the current fiscal year at a cost of Rs2 billion under THE Green Tractors Scheme. “Another 10,000 tractors will be distributed among cultivators next year at a cost of Rs2 billion. Also, 700 laser land levellers are being distributed among the farmers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday that the Punjab Youth Internship Programme was a revolutionary step of the provincial government, and 50,000 jobless youth would be provided internships in government and non-government institutions under the programme that will be formally launched from November 1.
Presiding over a high-level meeting held to review the programme, he said the graduates fulfilling the prescribed criteria would be given a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 each. Special Assistant to Chief Minister Zaeem Hussain Qadri; chairman of Planning and Development Department; secretaries of Finance, Energy, Industries, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Higher Education and Information departments; and other high-ranking officials also attended the meeting.
The chief minister said that the internship programme had been launched for polishing the talent of educated youth, who would get professional training and experience for practical life. He also directed that the candidates for the internship programme be selected in a transparent manner and 50 per cent quota be allocated for women.
Also, Ambassador of Netherlands to Pakistan Hugo Gajus Scheltema called on Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday. Matters of mutual interest including enhancing cooperation in the agriculture, livestock, energy and other sectors were discussed during the meeting. Punjab Investment Board Vice Chairman Muftah Ismail was also present on the occasion.
Talking to the ambassador, the chief minister informed him about the metro bus service and other projects being currently implemented by the Punjab government. He stressed the need for expanding trade cooperation between Pakistan and the Netherlands. He said that Pakistan need investment and technical cooperation, and wanted trade not aid.
Shahbaz said that the Netherlands could extend cooperation to Punjab in the agriculture, energy, livestock, textile, transport and urban planning sectors. He said that the Netherlands had expertise in solar technology and it could extend cooperation in this sector too.
The chief minister said that a conducive atmosphere for investment had been created in Punjab and Dutch investors could avail this opportunity.  “The Punjab government has ensured full protection to the foreign investment in the province,” Shahbaz maintained.