Sindh distributes 42,000 Benazir Hari Cards

KARACHI: The Sindh government has successfully registered 42,000 farmers, including 1,000 women, in Sukkur and Ghotki districts under the recently launched Benazir Hari Card initiative. Aimed at supporting 1.5 million farmers across Sindh, the programme seeks to provide financial assistance for purchasing seeds, fertilisers, and other essential inputs at subsidised rates.

The announcement was made during a ceremony in Rohri, where Benazir Hari Cards were distributed among farmers. Sindh’s Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Supply, and Prices Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Khan Mahar highlighted that the initiative aligns with the directives of PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to offer relief to farmers. He shared that 336,000 farmers have been registered so far, with 298,000 eligible for the wheat subsidy. Over Rs18 billion has already been disbursed under the programme.

The Benazir Hari Card serves as a multi-purpose ATM card to transfer all government subsidies directly to farmers. The programme’s first phase targets farmers with 1-25 acres of land, while the second phase will include larger landholders. The Sindh government also plans to introduce an ‘agriculture dashboard’ to monitor per-acre production and expenses, providing data to optimise yields and reduce costs.

In addition, efforts are underway to improve irrigation through watercourse projects, solar water pumps, and tubewells offered at subsidised rates. These initiatives aim to reduce energy costs and enhance efficiency for farmers.

Barrister Arslan Islam Sheikh, the Sindh government spokesperson and mayor of Sukkur, criticised the federal government for excluding Sindh’s interests in the Cholistan canal project and vowed to protect the province’s water rights through legal and public forums.

Chairman District Council Sukkur Syed Kumail Hyder Shah termed the Benazir Hari Card a historic step, reflecting the PPP’s commitment to farmer welfare. Senior officials, including Secretary Agriculture Rafiq Ahmed Buriro and Director General Agriculture Munir Ahmed Jumani, joined the event, underscoring the government’s dedication to uplifting Sindh’s agricultural sector.