KASUR, July 3: Minister of State for Housing and Works Sardar Asif Nakai says the government is paying special attention to the agriculture sector. Talking to representatives of farmers and different organizatons at Pattoki here on Sunday, the minister said the government was formulating a new livestock policy to bring revolutionary changes in the lives of people.

He said the import of 10,000 duty-free tractors would not only boost agriculture sector, but also help curb blackmarketing. He said the government had earmarked Rs66 billion for brick lining water courses across the country to check the wastage of irrigation water.

The minister said the government was giving a subsidy of Rs380 billion on urea, and added that 250,000 tons of urea was being imported for the Rabi crop to facilitate farmers. He hoped that this year the target of 15 million bales of cotton would be achieved.

He said the government had also directed all commercial and cooperative banks to ensure the provision of loan to farmers on easy instalments.—APP