Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday directed the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to make sure the provision of soft loans to farmers for the promotion of livestock sector. Chairing a high-level meeting, the Prime Minister observed that with judicious provision of credit to farmers by the ZTBL, the livestock sector could be promoted at relatively faster pace.
The meeting was informed that the total agriculture credit of the ZTBL for the first three months of current fiscal had gone up by 40 percent and the bank had, so far, disbursed Rs 24.5 billion to farmers.
Minfal is in final stages of the formulation of a 'comprehensive' policy for the same purpose.
The livestock, which contributes 49 percent of the total contribution of agriculture sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), has been the most neglected area over the years.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) to press sugar mills of Punjab and Sindh to clear outstanding dues of sugarcane growers.
The directive came two days after it was reported that the federal government had directed Punjab and Sindh authorities to force defaulted sugar mills to pay dues to growers for 2002-03 and 2003-04, without any delay.
The Premier took stock of the provincial cane commissioners' complaints to the Minfal that some sugar mills have yet to clear their outstanding dues to growers for 2002-03 and 2003-04.
The meeting was informed that the government had taken a number of measures to achieve 20.15 million tonnes wheat production target for the coming Rabi season.
The meeting noted with satisfaction that the cotton crop was likely to cross 10.7 million bales target and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) intervention was helping farmers to get reasonable price of their produce.
Federal Food Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah, ZTBL President Istaqbal Mehdi and other officials attended the meeting, according to a statement issued here.