CM Mahmood Khan orders Kisan Card launch in two months

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the officials concerned to ensure the launch of the Kisan Card under Digital Subsidy Mechanism within the next two months.

He said this while chairing a meeting that reviewed the progress made so far on the plan, said an official handout.

Minister for Agriculture Mohibullah Khan, Chief Secretary Kazim Niaz, Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Senior Member Board of Revenue Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Secretary Agriculture Muhammad Israr and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The chief minister believed the Agriculture Transformation Plan would prove to be a revolutionary step towards the development of the agriculture sector, adding the KP government would achieve the goals set under the plan in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. “Sustainable Development of the agriculture sector, facilitating the farmers and food security are amongst priority areas of KP government and all the available resources are being utilized for the purpose”, he added.

Briefing about the latest progress made on the various interventions under the plan, the forum was informed that the procurement of seed was in progress under the intervention for quality seed dissemination amongst farmers.

Initially 10,000 to 12,000 metric ton wheat seed would be procured and provided to farmers. Highlighting the proactive approach of the provincial government in the agriculture sector, it was informed that Tele-Farming and e-Agriculture system of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were already operational whereas Model Farm Services Centres had been established across the province.

The participants were told that under the Digital Subsidy Mechanism, preparations were under process for launching Kisan Card, adding under KP Irrigated Agriculture Project, in the first phase 150 moisture meters would be installed.

In order to improve Post-Harvest Storage, provincial sales tax on services for warehouse operators is being reduced from 16 per cent to 1 per cent, which would be added to the Finance Bill. It was informed that Agriculture Research Institutes Tarnab and Mingora would be upgraded.