Prime Minister Announces Start of Agricultural Reforms with Easy Loan Facility for Farmers

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the initiation of agricultural reforms, starting with providing farmers easy access to loans. The government will implement emergency reforms at the Agricultural Development Bank to ensure transparent loan distribution for farmers.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, a review meeting was held under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the development of the agricultural sector. The meeting presented proposals on agricultural reforms, particularly in increasing agricultural production, developing agricultural infrastructure, establishing business-friendly regulations, and ensuring easy access to agricultural loans for farmers.
The briefing highlighted that the National Agriculture Innovation and Growth Action Plan focuses on enhancing farmers’ income, increasing production, and implementing reforms in the right direction. Efforts are also underway to establish secure reserves of agricultural commodities.
The meeting revealed that the government plans to launch a project that will provide farmers with easy access to loans. Similar to other countries, Pakistan will create a transparent and easy agricultural loan system to financially support farmers.
Further, the meeting discussed utilizing artificial intelligence to increase per-acre production efficiently. Additionally, adding value to agricultural products will help increase exports and boost farmers’ income, as well as generate valuable foreign exchange.
In his speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the implementation of agricultural reforms will begin with providing easy loans to farmers. A public-private partnership model will be adopted for agricultural financing, and emergency reforms will be carried out at the Agricultural Development Bank to ensure transparent loan disbursement.
The Prime Minister also stated that the upcoming Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) will prioritize agricultural projects, focusing on mechanization, digitization, easier access to loans for farmers, and creating a business-friendly environment. Sustainable reforms in the agricultural sector will further enhance the country’s economy.
He added that reforms in both crop and livestock sectors should receive focused attention, with federal and provincial governments working together for effective collaboration. The reforms are expected to lead to a significant increase in production and a reduction in production costs.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also stressed the need for long-term and short-term strategies to increase storage capacity for agricultural commodities. A comprehensive strategy for sustainable agricultural reforms will be developed with the cooperation of the provinces.
He concluded by noting that the development of the agricultural sector will primarily benefit farmers and rural areas. The use of agricultural zoning and value chain strategies will increase agricultural exports, while new agricultural technologies will be introduced, particularly keeping in mind the needs of small landholders. Digital platforms will also be used effectively to educate farmers with new agricultural knowledge.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for IT Shiza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, Chief Coordinator for the Agricultural Sector Prime Minister’s Office Ahmed Umir, along with experts from the private sector and senior government officials involved in the agricultural sector.