Assistance to farmers

Food autarky is important for our national well-being. The Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) is playing an important role in achieving this basic necessity by issuing loans to farmers. Unfortunately, it has not shown any leniency towards the losses incurred by the cultivators owing to natural calamities that strike their land from time to time. The bank does occasionally issue some concessionary repayment plans, but it is more of a ruse to recover interest than to help the defaulting tiller. Muaza Lundi Pitafi in Muzaffargarh is situated on the banks of River Indus. Half of this land was washed away due to swift current caused by narrowing of the river bed since the building of the Ghazi Ghat bridge along the Indus.

Many cultivators lost their land permanently. But the bank continues to harass them till today. Only recently, a concessionary package was announced. But as soon as they manage to pay back this sum, their case is sent to the head office in Islamabad where their money is confiscated and they are asked to pay interest as well, to have their old loans cleared, otherwise the previous default is clamped back on them again. The government is requested to have pity on the afflicted farmers and order the bank to honestly stand by its declared concession clear these farmers’ loans.

Abdul Ghafoor

Muzaffargarh