Mega Agricultural Projects Launched For Farmers’ Prosperity: Babar Ala-ud-Din

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jul, 2025) Chairperson of the Chief Minister’s Inspection, Surveillance and Monitoring Team, Brigadier (Retired) Babar Ala-ud-Din, said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has rolled out a series of transformative mega agricultural projects for farmer’s prosperity and agricultural growth in addition to attaining regional self-sufficiency in agriculture productivity.

Addressing a meeting of agricultural scientists at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) Faisalabad, he said that the new projects including “Agriculture in Pothohar” initiative and formation of a Citrus Revival Task Force to promote region-specific crop development.

He said that under Kisan Card Scheme, interest-free loans worth Rs.100 billion have already been distributed to the farmers and Rs.12 billion has been provided under Wheat Support Program.

He said that 8,000 farmers would receive subsidies through Solarization of Agri Tube Wells Program whereas under Green Tractor Scheme, 10,000 farmers have been provided with subsidies ranging from Rs.500,000 to Rs.1 million per tractor. Similarly, 1,000 free green tractors have already been distributed to the successful growers who cultivated wheat crop over more than 12.5 acres of their lands, he added.

He said that on special instructions from CM Maryam Nawaz, mega projects are being initiated in Pothohar, Thal and South Punjab to support the successful cultivation of targeted crops.

As part of the Hi-Tech Financing Program, 11 types of advanced agricultural machinery would be offered to the farmers at subsidized rates, he said and urged the scientists that fruits of agricultural research must reach the farming community to increase per-acre productivity.

He said that Punjab’s research, education and extension sectors are now being integrated to promote modern agriculture. All departments under Agriculture Department must work collectively to expand mechanized farming and boost agricultural output, he added.

He said that Pakistani researchers have earned international recognition and our agriculture holds a central role in national development. The CM's focus also includes increasing the cultivation area of pulses across the Punjab, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Scientist AARI Dr. Sajid-ur-Rehman briefed that AARI scientists are actively working on developing 50 new climate-resilient crop varieties.

From 2021 to 2025, AARI has successfully introduced 106 new varieties and efforts are underway to transfer advanced production technologies directly to the farmers to ensure higher and better crop yields, he added.

Later, the Chairperson CMISMT also planted sapling as part of the monsoon tree plantation campaign and inspected various agricultural laboratories.