LAHORE, Oct 23: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the agriculture sector will have to be strengthened to achieve food autarky and earn foreign exchange, says a handout.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Green Tractor Scheme at Burki on Thursday, the chief minister said the scheme had been started for agricultural and economic development of the province. He said 10,000 tractors would be given to cultivators and the Punjab government would give a Rs2 billion subsidy on these tractors, adding the Punjab Bank would give farmers Rs4 billion in loans and the interest on these loans would be eight per cent only.

Sharif said the PML-N government gave farmers 5,000 tractors in 1998 and added that the scheme had been revived after eight-and-a-half-years. He asked farmers to grow a variety of crops by using the modern technology to meet future food needs of the country. He said ‘wrong’ decisions of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf over the last eight years pushed the country to terrorism and lawlessness, but the incumbent parliament had adopted a positive approach to eradicate terrorism.

The chief minister said the present government could not be held responsible for the prevailing energy crisis, adding the former government was responsible for it because it did not take even a single step to increase power generation. He said that agitation was people’s right, but the government needed some time to solve problems. He said he would ask the prime minister to review over billing. He said the Punjab government was taking measures to generate power in the province.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh said the government had started a programme for research on agriculture and provision of farm machinery to farmers at the cost of Rs1 billion. He said a campaign against spurious pesticides was under way.

Philippines envoy: Philippines Ambassador Jaime Yambao called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at his secretariat here on Thursday.

Relations between both the countries, economic as well as bilateral trade cooperation and various affairs of mutual interests came under discussion during the meeting.

According to a handout, the chief minister informed the distinguished guest that the government was improving health, education and other sectors of social development besides providing potable water to citizens on a priority basis.

The chief minister said various development and welfare-oriented projects were initiated for providing basic necessities to the people of the province. He said Pakistan was facing various crises, including economic and energy, and measures were being taken for their solution.

Mr Shahbaz said vast opportunities were available between the two countries for the exchange of workforce and this prospect should be fully exploited.

He said the exchange of delegations between the two countries would further strengthen their ties.

A comprehensive policy, he said, had been adopted by the Punjab government for the foreign investment and all-out facilities were being provided to foreign investors.

Mr Jaime Yambao said the Philippines wanted to further strengthen its friendly relations with Pakistan and was interested in promotion of trade and economic cooperation. He said the Pakistan Business Council was active for the cooperation in various sectors.

Later, the chief minister presented a souvenir of the Punjab government to the honourable guest.