ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Monday assured full support to a targeted disbursement of the Rs50 billion agriculture package that was recently announced by the government for the farmers and crop growers.
“The government has approved this package with a view to extend relief to the farmer community,” he said while chairing a meeting with a delegation of the Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) that met the Advisor and members of the government’s economic team at the Finance Division.
“The disbursement of the package directed to the farmers and crop growers remained a key objective of the government,” said a press statement.
Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh welcomed various 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 and deregulation of import and export of agriculture products and livestock.
The advisor also conceded that the agriculture sector has the potential in a post-COVID scenario to generate employment, boost growth, alleviate poverty and enhance food security.
He said the government is open to considering any suggestions to further improve the disbursement criterion of the agriculture package in consultation with all stakeholders.
“The government is also willing to extend further relief to the farmers as and when required and proposed by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for the growth of agriculture and betterment of farmers,” he added.
