LAHORE:
Punjab Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved the allocation of RS15 billion for 550,000 farmers under a wheat support fund.
Wheat farmers will receive direct financial support through the Kisan card.
The prime minister announced a package for the sector, including the exemption of irrigation tax for wheat farmers during the current year.
According to the package, a free electronic warehouse receipt (EWR) will be provided for four months for storage to protect wheat from the effects of climate change and market pressure farmers.
Farmers who store wheat under the system will obtain an electronic receipt, which can be granted to a bank within 24 hours to obtain a loan of up to 70 percent of the total cost. The marking of loans that amount to up to RS100 billion obtained from the Punjab Bank by Flour Mills and the holders of ‘Green License’ for the purchase of wheat are financed.
It has been decided that the approval of the cabinet will be requested for the immediate and mandatory purchase of wheat by Flour Mills and the licenses holders.
Wheat storage up to 25 percent of the total capacity has become mandatory.
It has also been decided that the federal government will be contacted for the export of wheat and its products.
The Punjab Bank will provide financing to the private sector for the renewal and construction of wheat warehouses.
The Punjab government will pay the marking of RS5 billion to provide storage facilities to wheat farmers.
The prohibition of wheat and flour transport on provincial and district borders has been raised.
The prime minister expressed his firm resolution not to allow farmers to suffer any loss. She said: “If any farmer has cultivated wheat, then he will obtain total compensation for it.”
Environmental squads
Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz also attended the first parade of the Environmental Protection Force.
It also launched an environmental approval management system and an emission test system for vehicles. After going through the emission test system, he also fixed in the first ETS sticker to his vehicle.
Senior Provincial Minister, Marriyum Aurengzeb, said that an electronic bicycle squad of the environmental protection force will work as an ecological unit. A ‘green squad’ will work for the antiplastic campaign, dust and dengue control in urban areas. A ‘blue squad’ of force will strive to protect the bodies of water and a ‘black squad’ will work for vehicle fuel tests and against toxic fumes. A ‘red squad’ or force will work to prevent harmful substances in industrial areas and hospitals.
A ‘Herwk Eye Squad’ will carry out environmental surveillance with 360 -degree living chamber vehicles and 11 thermal drones that can be seen in the dark. A special urban patrol and surveillance team will work to prevent environmental risks. The brick baking squad will control the furnaces in eight double cab vehicles.
The contamination monitoring equipment of the punctual source will supervise environmental pollutants.
A strict verification in air quality will be maintained in relevant areas through a mobile air quality monitoring station.
