KARACHI, June 19: The combined total disbursement of agriculture credit by the commercial and specialised banks jumped by 30.39 per cent at Rs184.892 billion during the first 11 months (July-May) of 2007-08 as compared to Rs141.798 billion in the corresponding period of last year.

The State Bank of Pakistan said on Thursday the overall credit disbursement by five major commercial banks Allied Bank Limited, Habib Bank Limited, MCB Bank, National Bank of Pakistan and United Bank Limited stood at Rs85.584 billion compared with Rs68.029 billion during the same period of last year, showing an increase of Rs17.56 billion or 25.81 per cent.

The Zarai Taraqqiati Bank Limited disbursed Rs56.072 billion compared with Rs47.003 billion in the same period last year, while disbursement by Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank Limited stood at Rs4.338 billion as against Rs5.978 billion, showing a decline of over 27 per cent.

Besides, 14 domestic private banks also loaned a combined Rs38.898 billion, up 87.11 per cent when compared with Rs20.788 billion disbursed during the same period last year.

The State Bank has set an indicative target of Rs200 billion for the current fiscal year, up from Rs160 billion in the last fiscal year. The commercial and specialised banks had disbursed Rs168.83 billion to the agriculture sector in 2006-07.