Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) Israrullah Zehri has directed the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to work out the delivery of 10,000 tractors in the second phase of federal government's subsidised Benazir Tractor Scheme (BTS).
Ten thousand tractors have already been distributed, and the farmers get Rs 200,000 subsidy on each tractor. "The objective of the scheme is to help modernise agriculture sector", the minister said while chairing a meeting of Guidelines Committee on Benazir Tractor Scheme here at Minfal.
He said: "The government is committed to invest in agriculture sector to bring it at par with other developed counties. Subsidised tractor scheme is an exemplary initiative of the present government for promotion of agriculture. Delivery of the remaining 10.000 tractors under this scheme would be made soon to further facilitate the farming community."
He said that that it was due to the farmer-friendly policies of the present government that Pakistan is the safest in food security and has surplus wheat in stock. He said that more than one million tons of wheat has been exported so far and the government plans to allow wheat export to the tune of three million tons. The minister said that a very good wheat crop is expected this year, too. The meeting was attended by Secretary Minfal Shafqat Hussain Naghmi, Additional Secretary Hizar Hayat Khan, D.G Water Management Tahir Anwar and representatives of Planning Commission, Finance Ministry, ZTBL, tractor manufacturing companies and other officials of the ministry.