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FAISALABAD, Sep 25 (APP):Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has said that Pakistan is an agrarian country and the PML-N has the credit to launch the biggest internship programme to utilise the untapped potential of agriculture graduates by offering them about 1000 internships, and enabling them to use their knowledge and skills to put the country on the road to expeditious progress and prosperity.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the agriculture graduates internship programme at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) here on Wednesday, she said that the PML-N was a pro-people political party, which had always preferred public welfare and presented a betterment agenda instead of taking personal gains.
She said that some elements defamed politics through their negative deeds, but the PML-N promoted positive politics in the country, which was imperative for national progress and prosperity.
She said that the previous rulers abused the young generation for their ulterior motives. They raised hollow slogans but never provided employment opportunities to the youth on merit. She said, “We have planned the biggest internship programme for the agriculture graduates with a monthly stipend of Rs. 60,000 per internee. These graduates were appointed purely on merit and their stipend would be enhanced gradually.”
She said that “clinic on wheels” was continuing successfully in Punjab and all people irrespective of their political affiliation were benefiting from the programme. “We have also launched a heart surgery programme for children to save their lives. Under this programme, more than 100 patients have been facilitated so far including patients belonging to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) also,” she added.
The chief minister said that the PML-N did not believe in politics of conflicts. It was focusing on national development, whereas some elements were hatching conspiracies to sabotage the pace of national progress and prosperity, she said.
She said that the Punjab government had also launched the safe cities project, which would help provide maximum safety and security to lives and properties of masses, especially to females.
She said that about 5,000 applications were received for internship programme, and out of those, about 1000 agri graduates were selected including 25 per cent females for the programme.
She said the government allocated Rs.400 billion for Kissan Package. The government also chalked out a comprehensive strategy to save farmers from exploitation. “Roti is available at Rs.12-13 in Punjab, and I am positively monitoring the programme to facilitate masses,” she added.
Maryam Nawaz said that Kissan card scheme was launched to provide interest-free loan of Rs.150,000 to each small farmer in addition to other incentives. We have received one million applications for Kissan cards as this community was exploited badly in the past. About 350,000 farmers have qualified for Kissan cards and more than 50,000 growers so far received their cards, which would be activated from mid of October.
She said that the government was focusing on measures to save farmers from exploitation in addition to providing Roti on cheap rates to the masses. “We also launched green tractor scheme and the government would provide a subsidy of Rs.1 million on purchase of each tractor. We have so far received 600,000 applications for green tractor schemes which is an evident that the farmers have full trust in the PMLN government,” she added.
The CM said that the government would establish agriculture malls in various cities of the province including Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sargodha, etc. to provide all facilities to farmers under one roof. An agricultural bank would also be set up to provide loans to farmers of Punjab and the project was in the final stage. “We would also solarize all agriculture tube-wells to save farmers from costlier electricity, she added.
She said that mechanization is imperative for increasing agriculture productivity. In this connection, the government would establish latest machinery center at tehsil level to rent out these machines to farmers to facilitate them.
She said that the Punjab government would fully ensure rule of law in the province and no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands.
The CM also distributed appointment letters among the agriculture graduates and advised them to avoid indulging in negative activities; rather they should play their proactive role for expediting national progress and prosperity.
Provincial Minister for Agriculture Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and others were also present.