GILGIT: The Gilgit-Balt­istan (GB) government laun­ched a project to provide certified wheat seeds to local far­mers at a 50 per cent subsidy.

An online portal has been launched and the sch­eme is expected to cost Rs140 million. GB Agri­culture, Livestock and Fish­eries Secretary Usman Ahmed told Dawn that the GB government has taken another step towards making the region self-sufficie­nt in agriculture and for the welfare of local farmers.

Under the Chief Min­ister’s Vision for Agric­ult­ure, the government is providing quality, certified whe­at seeds to farmers across the region at a 50 per cent subsidy on the special directives of Chief Minister Amjad Hussain.

Under the initiative, hi­gh-quality, certified wheat seeds will be procured from Punjab and distributed among farmers in all districts of GB, he said.Mr Ahmed said the GB agriculture department launched the online portal to enable farmers to obtain subsidised seeds through a convenient and transparent process. “Those unable to use the online portal can register by contacting the office of the deputy director of agriculture or the agriculture officer in their respective districts,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2026