AVN Report
LAHORE: Punjab’s Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani says that under the chief minister’s initiative to boost agricultural productivity over 1.7 million farmers have been issued Kissan Cards providing them access to credit for purchasing essential crop inputs.
During a recent meeting, the minister said the Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has registered one million more farmers under the scheme. At the same time, the Bank of Punjab has verified the eligibility of 370,000 farmers so far, with the remaining applications still under review.
The meeting reviewed registration, verification, and the distribution process of Kissan Cards, alongside preparations for the initiative’s official launch.
Kirmani reported that over 2,500 shops offering agricultural inputs have been enlisted under the program, where information billboards have also been placed to raise awareness.
Highlighting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s commitment to resolving farmers’ issues, Kirmani called for speeding up the issuance process to meet the target of distributing 500,000 cards. He emphasized the importance of effective campaigning, including door-to-door outreach efforts.
The Kissan Cards will be fully operational from October 15, enabling farmers to purchase agricultural inputs from registered dealers. To facilitate distribution, 136 delivery centers have been established at the tehsil level.
Key officials present at the meeting included Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, Special Secretary Agriculture Agha Nabeel, and Agricultural Information Director General Naveed Asmat Kahloon.
