SANGHAR, July 8: Some 5,796 defaulter farmers could not take advantage of the relief package announced by the government as they failed to deposit the principal amount by the due date, which was June 30.

These farmers owe Rs41,411,000 to the Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan in the range between Rs25,000 to Rs100,000.

This was said by a representative of the ADBP at a session of the district council here on Monday.

He further told the elected representatives that 2,523 defaulter farmers, who owed Rs26,732,000 to the ADBP and came in the category of under Rs25,000 loan, got benefit and their loan was adjusted as per the relief package announced for the drought-affected areas.

As many as 427 farmers, who came in the category of up to Rs100,000 loan, benefited from the package and a mark up amount of Rs7,373,000 was written off as they deposited the principal amount by the due date.

The Monday’s session of the district council, presided over Convenor Dr Mehmood Ahmad Rajput, was reserved to discuss the ADBP affairs.

The members of the Awam Dost Panel, Faisal Wassan, Shahid Thaheem and Aziz Ghouri, objected that the opposition was not taken into confidence and no development scheme under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme was given to their areas.

They complained that they were also ignored during the budget preparation.

They also pointed out that as the quorum was incomplete, the session was not in order.

The convenor adjourned the session for the next day.