CM Hamza Seeks Plan For Loans To Small Farmers.

LAHORE -- Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz on Monday sought a comprehensive plan for providing interest-free, soft loans to small farmers on the pattern of Akhuwat and directed to consult the Bank of Punjab in this regard. He said this while chairing a meeting at his office. The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister Sardar Awais Leghari, Bilal Yasin MPA, political assistants, administrative secretaries, commissioner Lahore and others. The supply and demand of vegetables were reviewed and the meeting participants also deliberated on reducing the exploitative role of middlemen.

It was decided to immediately transpose auction supervisory staff and reconstitute the market committees across Punjab. The chief minister directed to induct the best human resources in market committees to get desired results. He also asked the agriculture secretary about the performance of agriculture research institutes as agriculture productivity could not be boosted without research. Hamza said a comprehensive report should be submitted about the work done by the agri research institutes in recent years. He suggested acquiring the services of the experts from private sector. He added that a crop insurance plan should also be devised. 'Take timely steps for timely import of onions and tomatoes to overcome the shortage in coming days,' he directed. He further said that the standard of facilities in the markets would be...