ISLAMABAD, June 18 (APP): Finance Minister Senator Mohammad
Ishaq Dar Saturday on Saturday chaired a meeting to discuss the
modalities for implementation of relief measures for agriculture
sector announced in the budget 2016-17.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, provincial finance and agriculture ministers of Punjab and Sindh and senior officials of relevant ministries participated in the meeting, said a press release.
The meeting discussed in detail the subsidy on fertilizers announced in the budget and the mechanism for its disbursement. The detailed modalities in this regard were discussed and agreed.
It was decided that the subsidy would be provided through a joint Federal & Provincial package for farmers.
The Finance Minister stated that the government had given due
priority to the agriculture sector in the budget.
He hoped that the measures announced by the Federal Government
would be complemented by the provincial governments with a view to
ensure that the decline in agricultural growth is reversed and the
sector achieves a healthy growth rate in accordance with its
potential.
The minister said the decrease in fertilizer prices by the industry was made possible after lengthy negotiations with the manufacturers.
He urged the provincial governments to continue with the spirit of cooperation for the promotion of the vital agriculture sector.
The provincial ministers welcomed the measures announced by the
Federal Government and stated that the provincial governments were
equally keen to provide support to the farmers, who had been facing
a difficult situation due to falling commodity prices and high cost
of inputs.
The meeting also discussed other agriculture related measures and decided to continue close liaison and coordination for the country-wide impact on the agriculture sector.
