Punjab is set to build a new tractor assembly plant in collaboration with Belarus. This decision was announced during a meeting between Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Belarusian Ambassador Andrei N. Metelitsa. The ambassador also expressed interest in collaborating on an electric bus project for Punjab.
The meeting focused on strengthening relations between Pakistan and Belarus, particularly in agriculture, trade, and tourism. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the Punjab government is keen on attracting foreign investment and offering incentives to international partners. She highlighted Belarus’ expertise in agricultural machinery production, especially tractors, and expressed the desire to work closely with Belarus to improve agriculture in Punjab. Maryam Nawaz also stressed the importance of enhancing trade and strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
Ambassador Metelitsa supported establishing a transit route for trade in the region and emphasized the potential for creating a road corridor to facilitate this. The meeting also included Belarus Trade Consular Ilya Kanapliou and senior officials from Punjab’s agriculture and transport sectors, including the ministers for agriculture and transport, and the president of the Bank of Punjab.
The discussions with the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, centered on introducing advanced agricultural machinery and high-power tractors from Belarus to Punjab. The minister emphasized the province’s commitment to leveraging Belarus’ experience in agricultural mechanization and assured support for investors willing to establish a tractor plant in Punjab.
Minister Kirmani also highlighted the Punjab government’s Rs. 400 billion “Transforming Agriculture Programme,” which includes initiatives like the Kissan Card, Green Tractor, and solarization projects aimed at increasing per-acre crop production. He noted that Rs. 30 billion has been allocated for subsidized Green Tractors, with an initial plan to provide 9,500 tractors to farmers.
The minister acknowledged that locally produced tractors and harvesters were less efficient compared to international standards, leading to post-harvest losses. He urged Belarus to introduce modern, multi-purpose harvesters that could reduce losses during wheat and rice harvesting. Additionally, he requested support for tractors with over 85 horsepower to aid in agricultural mechanization.
To further support farmers, the Punjab government plans to establish Agri Malls in Multan, Sargodha, Sahiwal, and Bahawalpur under the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI). These malls will offer farmers access to quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides at fixed prices, all under one roof, aiming to streamline agricultural processes and improve productivity.
Follow ProPakistani on Google News & scroll through your favourite content faster!
Support independent journalism
If you want to join us in our mission to share independent, global journalism to the world, we’d love to have you on our side. If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you can rest assured that you’re making a big impact every single month in support of open, independent journalism. Thank you.
