The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will disburse agricultural loan to the tune of Rs 1.60 billion amongst 12,000 growers and land owners of Hazara Division through commercial banks and other financial institutions. This was revealed in the meeting held in divisional headquarters of Hazara Division with Commissioner Hazara, Mohammad Khalid Khan Umerzai in the chair.
The purpose of the meeting was to evolve strategy and procedure for the provision of agricultural loans to the growers at their doorstep here the other day. Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Hazara said that for the facilitation of growers and speedy release of loans concerned officers of all departments will remain present for One Window Operation in districts Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra. The departments included revenue, concerned commercial banks, post office and department of agriculture (extension).
The meeting reviewed arrangements for extending maximum facilitation to growers under One Window Operation and identified duties and responsibilities of the concerned authorities particularly of the department of revenue. The meeting in light of past experiments also reviewed difficulties and complications in the issuance of agricultural loans to small farmers and pinpointed departments responsible for such difficulties and took decisions for the success of the agricultural loans scheme and larger interest of the growers.
The Commissioner, Hazara, Khalid Khan Umerzai stressed the State Bank of Pakistan for evolving unified policy for minimum ratio of mark-up to make the loans' scheme acceptable to the growers and implement similar ratio of mark-up on all commercial loans. Quoting the experiences of past, he said majority of growers hesitate to obtain loans on higher mark-up, which besides bearing negative impact on growers also affect national economy.
He expressed concerned over the matter that commercial banks do nothing without influence for common man, however, he expressed the hope that one-window operation will benefit such growers and land owners. Commissiner, Hazara assured that under one-window operation the officials of the department of revenue will be present in any circumstances, otherwise, stern action will be taken against them.
Agreeing with complaints regarding patwaris in the issuance of agricultural loans and said that on receiving such complaints some patwaris and other officials of the department have already been suspended. However, he expressed sorrow that political elements come into action to build pressure and foiled action initiated on substandard performance against officials.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Manager, SBP, Rawalpindi highlighted details of Agricultural loans and said that an amount of Rs 1.60 billion will be disbursed among the growers and land owners of Hazara Division for crops, orchards, poultry, livestock, fisheries, tractors and agricultural machineries under soft terms and conditions. For this purpose, he said a target of 12,000 growers has been fixed in Hazara.
He said that commercial banks are required that they will have to allocate a specific share in the loans obtained from central bank for provision to growers under head of agricultural loans. He said that taking participation in one-window operation has been made obligatory on all commercial banks. He said that the disbursement process of these loans will be formally monitored.