The federal and provincial governments have unanimously proposed setting the wheat support
price at Rs4,500 per maund for the upcoming season. Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq
Hussain Kirmani announced the proposal on Sunday. The decision was discussed by Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and the chief ministers of
other provinces.

According to an official spokesperson, the announcement was made during a meeting in
Sargodha. The meeting reviewed wheat cultivation targets and government preparations for the
upcoming Rabi season.

During the meeting, Minister Ashiq Kirmani said that the government had set a wheat cultivation
target of 1.725 million acres for the Sargodha Division. He directed agriculture officials to
encourage farmers to grow wheat on additional land beyond the assigned target.
The minister also highlighted several financial support programmes introduced to help farmers
during the Rabi season. He said the government had provided Rs150 billion through the Kisan
Card programme. These interest-free loans are intended to help farmers manage their
agricultural expenses.

The government has also allocated an additional Rs17 billion in interest-free funding for DAP
fertilizer purchases. Under this programme, farmers can receive support worth Rs3,500 per acre
through the Kisan Card.

Farmers will also receive relief on certified wheat seeds. The Punjab government has provided
a subsidy of Rs320 million through the Punjab Seed Corporation. After an Rs800 discount per
bag, certified seed will be available for Rs7,000 per bag.
Kirmani said that farmers would receive regular agricultural guidance from sowing until
harvesting. He directed the Punjab Seed Corporation to sell seeds directly to farmers through its
official sales centres. This step aims to ensure that growers receive certified seeds at approved
prices.

He also said that strict action was being taken against canal water theft on the instructions of
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The government was also holding discussions with the
Sugar Mills Association to begin the sugarcane crushing season earlier.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab Shakeel Ahmed Mian confirmed that sufficient supplies of seeds
and fertilizers were available. He also stressed that the government would follow a
zero-tolerance policy against the sale of fake pesticides and adulterated fertilizers.
Commissioner Sargodha Division Hafiz Shaukat Ali assured the meeting that wheat cultivation
would also be encouraged on land covered by the Apna Khet Apna Rozgar, Ghori Pal, and
Numbardar Grant programmes.

The meeting was attended by several elected representatives and senior government officials.
The proposed wheat support price and financial assistance programmes aim to encourage
farmers and improve wheat production across Punjab.

Source : Punjab Agriculture Department, as cited through the official spokesperson’s statement
in the supplied news report.

Habib

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