Government is facilitating the : Punjab Agriculture Minister

RAWALPINDI, Mar 24 (APP): Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Hussain Jahanian Gardezi on Wednesday said that the government was making all out efforts to facilitate the farmers as development of the agriculture sector was among its priorities.

Presiding over a consultative meeting with the representatives of farmers’ organizations, the Provincial Minister said that agriculture was the backbone of Pakistan economy. It was the need of the time to shift agriculture on modern trends to make Pakistan a food sufficient country. Under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar, steps were being taken on priority basis to address the legitimate demands of farmers.

He said that due to personal efforts of CM Punjab, for the first time in history, sugarcane growers had got their due right and potato growers had also received good prices. Agricultural development and prosperity of farmers were top priorities of the Punjab government, he added.

The Minister said that special recommendations would be sent to the Federal Government for discount in electricity bills on tube wells to facilitate the farmers. He appreciated the discovery of new varieties of crops by research institutes. A fine of Rs 19 crore was imposed and 18 factories involved in the smuggling of counterfeit pesticides were dismantled.