Punjab Caretaker Minister for Agriculture, Food, Planning & Development Sardar Tanvir Ilyas Khan stressed the need to take solid measures for ensuring increased production of hybrid seeds of maize in the province and provision of good quality seeds to farmers.
He was presiding over 113th meeting of Board of Directors of Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC) held to discuss and approve various significant agendas including budget estimates for the fiscal year 2018-19.
The meeting, after thorough discussion, unanimously approved budget of Rs 3.25 billion for the said financial year which included allocation of Rs 20.32 million for development work. Other agendas approved in the meeting were; setting target of 48,000 metric ton for wheat seeds, 4,000 metric ton for cotton seeds, 3,400 metric ton for rice seeds, 640 metric ton for various pulses, 3,320 metric ton for maize, 795 metric ton for various vegetables, 240 metric ton for oil seeds and 600 metric ton for fodder seeds.
On this occasion, Sardar Tanvir Ilyas Khan appreciated the performance of PSC by saying that Punjab Seed Corporation is the only profit earning public sector institute in Punjab since 1976. PSC is also providing high quality seed to farmers of the province on cheap rate. As Provincial Minister for Agriculture I would extend all possible support to PSC to meet its annual targets within set timelines.
The meeting was also attended by Managing Director PSC Waheed Akhtar Ansari, Additional Secretary Planning Dr Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Dr Muhammad Arif and other members of Board of Directors.