Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif will launch the Kissan Card activation on October 15, 2024, providing registered farmers with access to bank loans for sowing inputs, as reported on October 11.
According to the Punjab Agriculture Department, farmer registrations for the Kissan Card have exceeded expectations, with 1.25 million farmers enrolled, surpassing the initial target of 1 million. Out of these, over 170,000 farmers have been verified by the Bank of Punjab, and their cards will be formally activated at a special ceremony in Toba Tek Singh on October 25, 2024. To facilitate the usage of these cards, the government has set up 136 centers at the Tehsil level across Punjab, allowing cardholders to easily access sowing inputs.
In preparation for the launch event, Punjab Agriculture and Livestock Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani chaired a high-level meeting in Toba Tek Singh. Key figures in attendance included Member National Assembly Chaudhry Junaid Anwar, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Osama Khan Leghari, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahu, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Naeem Sindhu, and DPO Ibadat Nisar.
During the meeting, Minister Kirmani emphasized the Chief Minister’s unwavering commitment to agricultural development. He highlighted the introduction of the Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Scheme, through which the government will provide a subsidy of 10 lakh rupees per tractor, further promoting mechanisation in agriculture.
Additionally, model agricultural malls are being established across the province to offer farmers world-class facilities. The minister also underscored the launch of the Agricultural Graduates Internship Programme, a first in Pakistan’s history, offering 1,000 agricultural graduates a monthly stipend of 60,000 rupees to support their professional development in the sector.
Later, Minister Kirmani visited the Toba Tek Singh Sports Stadium to review the preparations for the upcoming activation ceremony, ensuring everything is in place for this significant event.
