The president of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), Istaqbal Mehdi, has directed its field functionaries in Sindh to ensure that the benefits of recently announced agri relief package reach maximum number of small farmers.
He issued this directive at a meeting with the regional managers of Sindh here on Saturday.
ZTBL relief package was announced by President Pervez Musharraf in Farmers' Convention here on June 10.
Reviewing the implementation of the agri package in Sindh, the ZTBL chief urged the regional managers to hold field days at some prominent places in the branches and ensure maximum participation to create greater awareness among the borrowers/farmers about 'Reduction in Mark-up' and 'Recovery Relief Package' notified by the bank in pursuance of the agri package.
Mehdi held another meeting with the executives of the bank at Head Office and visited different regions of Punjab to get feedback and firsthand knowledge about the implementation of agri package and to ensure that its benefits reach maximum number of small farmers.
According to the agri relief package, borrowers will be eligible for further 1 percent rebate/reduction in mark-up from January 1, 2005, if they repay their instalments on or before due date.
Besides reduction in mark-up, the bank has also notified a Recovery Relief Package-2004 for its borrowers with an outstanding amount upto Rs 0.5 million as of March 30, 2004 over due from December 31, 2000 all over the country.
An additional special package has also been announced for small borrowers of calamity hit areas of Balochistan with an amount up to Rs 0.2 million as of March 30, 2004 over due from December 31, 2000.