ISLAMABAD, March 20: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has directed Zarai Taraqiati Bank (ZTBL) to recruit 500 officials in order to expand its outreach programmes and assist farmers with proper utilisation and repayment of agricultural loans.

The prime minister said that more officials should be recruited locally and on merit, pre-vocational quota should be observed and people from less developed areas should be given due representation.

Reviewing the performance of the ZTBL, at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday, Mr Aziz asked them to assist farmers in use of technology for value addition.