GUJAR KHAN: A ceremony was held to distribute tractors under the Punjab Chief Minister’s Green Tractor Programme in Jhelum district. As many as 68 farmers received tractors selected through a transparent balloting process.

The event was attended by members of the National Assembly Bilal Azhar Kayani, Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf and Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Meesam Abbas.

Speaking on the occasion, MNA Bilal Azhar Kayani said the Green Tractor Programme was a significant step toward agricultural development in Punjab, free from any political interference. He emphasised that all development projects were being completed transparently and on merit to ensure maximum benefits for farmers.

MNA Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf stated that the Punjab government was taking practical measures to promote agriculture by allocating billions of rupees for the Green Tractor Scheme and Kisan Card initiatives.

He praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s dedication to the province’s development, noting that she is working tirelessly for public welfare.

Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Meesam Abbas said the implementation process of the chief minister’s schemes had been made extremely simple to benefit the maximum number of farmers.

He announced that the number of tractors allocated to the district would be increased in the next phase and noted that the subsidy provided to farmers under the programme was the largest in the country’s history.

Director of Agriculture Shahid Iftikhar Bukhari informed the gathering that 9,500 tractors were allocated under the Green Tractor Programme across Punjab, with a highly transparent balloting process.

He added that agricultural productivity in Jhelum district had increased from 19 to 22 maunds per acre over the past three years, reflecting the success of the government’s agricultural policies.

At the end of the ceremony, MNAs Bilal Azhar Kayani and Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf and Deputy Commissioner Meesam Abbas distributed tractor keys among the successful farmers.

The recipients expressed their gratitude to the Punjab government for this beneficial initiative.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2024