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ATTOCK, Oct 09 (APP):Thirty-five farmers of the district have been selected through balloting under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Rs7 billion Agricultural Transformation Plan (ATP) for the Potohar region. The initiative aims to promote sustainable farming practices, enhance irrigation facilities, and improve agricultural productivity across the region.
A special ceremony for the allotment of mini-dams was organized by the Punjab Agriculture Department, where the names of 35 successful applicants were drawn from a total of 168 submissions.
The event was presided over by Member Provincial Assembly Nawabzada Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan. Among the selected farmers, eight belong to Attock tehsil, nine to Fateh Jang, nine to Pindigheb, and ten to Jand.
Under the plan, the Punjab government will provide a 70 percent subsidy for the construction of 400 mini-dams in Rawalpindi Division over the next three years — 100 in the first year and 150 each in the following two years. The scheme is designed to tackle the persistent irrigation challenges faced by farmers in the Potohar region and ensure efficient water management.
Speaking at the event, MPA Nawabzada Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan said that agricultural development and farmers’ welfare were among the foremost priorities of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
“For decades, farmers in Potohar have struggled with water scarcity. The Chief Minister’s dedicated package for mini-dams has fulfilled a long-standing demand and will greatly benefit local agriculture,” he stated.
He added that the Punjab government was introducing landmark measures for farmers’ prosperity, such as the Kisan Card for interest-free loans to purchase agricultural inputs and subsidized Green Tractors.
“The construction of these mini-dams will help convert barren lands into fertile fields and promote high-value crops, ensuring long-term economic benefits for farmers,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by Additional Director General Soil Conservation Dr. Parvez Sikandar, Director Project Monitoring Unit Muhammad Irfan Man, Director Soil Conservation Rawalpindi Atiqur Rehman, along with senior officials of the Agriculture Department and a large number of local farmers .