Government to provide fiscal relief to farmers: minister

Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday said that all necessary measures would be taken to provide fiscal relief to farmers to boost agriculture productivity. In a meeting with parliamentarians from Punjab, the minister said that agriculture is the backbone of our economy and due consideration would be given to promote it.
In response to the proposals given by parliamentarians, Raja said that Pepco has been directed to ensure 10 hours uninterrupted supply to tubewells Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the proposals of parliamentarians to provide fiscal relief to growers to reduce their input cost will be examined and finalised shortly in consultation with Pepco, finance and agriculture ministries.
He said that the policy of this people-friendly government is to boost the agriculture sector and various steps have been proposed in the budget 2008-09. He asked the parliamentarians to monitor it and give feedback. The minister also asked the members to implement the energy conservation policy and initiate awareness campaign in their respective areas.
It was decided in the meeting that Pepco and other ministries will submit detailed report on the proposals of the parliamentarians next week. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday with parliamentarians of all the four provinces to further discuss and finalise these proposals.
Earlier, the parliamentarians briefed the meeting on their proposals regarding subsidy on electricity tariff for tubewells, waiver of interest on small loans, reduction of interest rate on agriculture loans, introduction of low-cost tractor scheme on easy instalments, flat rates for tubewells, quarterly bills for tubewells, permission to arrange transformers from open market by farmers on their expenses for tubewells, livestock insurance, opening of facilitation centers for co-operative farms at union council level by the govt to provide fertilisers, pesticides and seeds on easy instalments.
The parliamentarians were of the views that the proposals will help boost the agriculture sector and provide relief to the general public. They also assured their full co-operation in the energy conservation programme. The parliamentarians also thanked the minister for provision of uninterrupted power supply for 10 hours to tubewells.
Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Secretary Ministry of Water and Power, Food and Agriculture, adviser Ministry of Water and Power, senior officials of Pepco and ADBP were also present.