Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is committed to providing relief to the public and creating economic opportunities for their welfare. Under the CM’s Smog Control Programme, all available resources are being utilized to combat air pollution.
These remarks were made by the Senior Provincial Minister of Punjab, Marriyum Aurangzeb while speaking as a special guest at a ceremony held on Monday at Agriculture House to mark the activation of the Kisan Card and the launch of the Anti-Smog Squad. She emphasized that special responsibilities have been assigned to all relevant departments under the CM’s smog control initiative.
In the first phase, 5,000 super seeders are being distributed to farmers for Rs5 billion, with a 60 percent subsidy. These machines will help make use of paddy residue. A zero-tolerance policy is in place against burning paddy residue.
The minister announced that an Anti-Smog Squad has been formed within the agriculture department, targeting paddy-growing areas at the tehsil level to offer technical assistance to farmers. Additionally, the CM has established a special helpline (1373) for reporting incidents that contribute to smog.
On this occasion, Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani called it a historic day, highlighting that the activation of the Kisan Card will be a game-changer for small farmers. In line with the CM’s vision, the Kisan Card will help farmers escape the exploitation of middlemen. The card will provide Rs150 billion in interest-free agricultural loans annually, with 80 percent of the applicants receiving loans through this initiative for the first time.
He added that while previous governments only politicized agriculture, the current government is taking concrete measures for farmers’ prosperity, allocating 250 percent more budget to agriculture in the 2024-25 budget compared to the previous year.
As part of the CM’s Smog Control Programme, the agriculture department has introduced a smog policy, which is now being implemented. Super seeders are being distributed, and the Anti-Smog Squad has been activated with special powers. The squad will not only raise awareness about the dangers of burning crop residues but will also take legal action against those responsible.
Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo noted that 6.6 million acres of paddy have been cultivated in Punjab this year, and harvesting is currently underway. Specific tasks have been assigned to field formations to aid in smog control. He also revealed that 22 anti-smog squads are being set up in paddy-growing regions, equipped with specialized vehicles to enhance outreach efforts. Additionally, the activation of the Kisan Card will allow farmers to quickly purchase wheat inputs, bypassing middlemen.