Benazir Tractor Scheme (BTS), which was launched on September 11 with a delay of almost one month, seems to have run into trouble with mismanagement of various departments, well informed sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday. The scheme, which aims at providing 10,000 tractors to lucky winners with a subsidy of Rs 200, 000 per tractor, is being managed by the ZTBL.
According to the schedule, the lucky winners were required to book the tractors of their choice by October 12, but no one really knows how many tractors have been booked to date. According unconfirmed reports, the number of tractors booked is much lower than 10,000. Besides, the most serious threat to the whole scheme is the non-availability of the amount of rupees two billion subsidy from the government, which was announced, in the Federal budget.
The sources said that the tractor manufacturers, who were supposed to supply 10,000 tractors within 60 days, had issued call up letters for over 3,500 tractors, but the ZTBL branches were not issuing demand drafts, citing non-availability of funds for the scheme.
The sources told Business Recorder that of the rupees two billion, which were to be provided, only Rs 50 million might to be placed at the disposal of the ZTBL within a few days, which would suffice for just about 2,500 tractors, while the tractor manufacturers had made arrangements to supply 10,000 tractors.
Meanwhile, as the last date for calling applications for 5,000 tractors, to be given by the Sindh government came to a choice, only 1,200 applications were reported to have been received because most farmers do not confirm their requirements as they are defaulters.
Similarly, the Green Tractor Scheme of the Punjab government has run into trouble where price has been negotiated with a select company with higher prices as against open competition with the participation of all suppliers. Meanwhile, other manufacturers, if they are ousted from the scheme, are preparing to file petition. Their demand is that the farmers should be allowed to book a tractor of their choice.
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