ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has assured full support to a targeted disbursement of the Rs. 50 billion agriculture package for the farmers and crop growers.
While chairing a meeting with a delegation of the Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) and members of the government’s economic team at the Finance Division, he said the government has approved Rs. 50 billion with a view to extending relief to the farmer community across the country.
The disbursement of the package directed to the farmers and crop growers remained a key objective of the government, said a press release issued by Finance Division.
The Advisor welcomed different proposals and recommendations put forward by the delegation regarding extending direct relief to the farmers, including possible reduction of electricity tariff for tube-wells, reduction of import duty on fertilizers, reduction of mark-up and waiver of agricultural loans.
Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said the government was open to considering any proposal to further improve the disbursement criterion of the agriculture package of Rs. 50 billion in view of the input and consultation of the stakeholders.
The Advisor asked the leadership of FAP and the concerned ministries to sit together in the coming days to further fine-tune and improve the disbursement mechanism of the agriculture package and bring up any other suggestions to further help the farming community, the statement read.