Thirty-five farmers from Attock district have been selected through a balloting process under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Rs7 billion Agricultural Transformation Plan (ATP) for the Potohar region.
The Punjab Agriculture Department organized a special ceremony for the allotment of mini-dams, where 35 successful applicants were chosen from 168 entries.
The event was chaired by Member Provincial Assembly Nawabzada Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan. According to the results, eight farmers were selected from Attock tehsil, nine from Fateh Jang, nine from Pindigheb, and ten from Jand.
Under the plan, the Punjab government will offer a 70 percent subsidy for the construction of 400 mini-dams across the Rawalpindi Division over the next three years — 100 dams will be completed in the first year, followed by 150 each in the next two years.
Speaking at the event, MPA Nawabzada Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan emphasized that agricultural growth and farmer welfare are top priorities for Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
“For years, farmers in Potohar have faced severe water shortages. The Chief Minister’s mini-dam initiative has answered a long-standing demand and will significantly strengthen local agriculture,” he said.
He also highlighted the government’s broader efforts to support farmers, including the Kisan Card program offering interest-free loans and the Green Tractor Scheme with subsidized prices.
“These mini-dams will turn barren lands into fertile fields and promote high-value crops, ensuring long-term economic growth for farmers,” he added.
The ceremony was attended by Additional Director General Soil Conservation Dr. Parvez Sikandar, Director Project Monitoring Unit Muhammad Irfan Man, Director Soil Conservation Rawalpindi Atiqur Rehman, senior Agriculture Department officials, and a large number of local farmers.