LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday announced the establishment of the province’s first ‘Apna Kisan Bank’ and agricultural loans worth Rs17 billion and an increase in financing under the Kisan Card scheme.

She made the announcement during a meeting with representatives of small, medium and large farmers here.

Under the proposed financing structure, farmers will be offered loans up to Rs10 million at zero markup, up to Rs30m at 2pc interest and up to Rs50m at 5pc rate through the Punjab Urban Unit. The chief minister also announced an increase of Rs3,500 per acre in the Kisan Card loan limit for the purchase of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser, raising it from Rs30,000 to Rs33,500 per acre.

She said the government would ensure implementation of the wheat support price of Rs4,500 per maund in coordination with the federal government.

Farmers can get loans up to Rs50m at 5pc markup; Kisan Card limit increased

The CM said the Rs17bn in subsidised loans would benefit farmers cultivating around five million acres.

She said the government had resisted pressure to impose agricultural income tax on farmers and was committed to protecting their interests. She said the Kisan Card had helped farmers access fertiliser, seeds and pesticides without having to depend on middlemen.

More than one million small farmers were benefiting from the scheme, she added.

Highlighting the government’s mechanisation initiatives, the chief minister said 25,000 tractors had already been provided on subsidy, while the Green Tractor Scheme would be expanded.

She said Rs70bn had been allocated for high-tech agricultural mechanisation, adding that the initiative was encouraging the establishment of agricultural machinery factories and local production of tractors ranging from 85 to 100 horsepower.

She announced plans to establish agro-parks in Sargodha, Bhakkar, Khanewal and Okara to improve returns for farmers. An online portal would also be introduced to digitise wheat procurement, while the government would soon formally launch its wheat procurement plan, she said.

On water management, she said, the government was taking strict action against water theft to ensure supplies reached the tail-end of irrigation channels, irrespective of a farmer’s financial or social standing. Around 400 mini-dams had been completed in the Potohar region, with a target of increasing the number to 1,000, she said.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026