Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz on Monday said that the the government does not have magic wand to fix things but a passion to make a difference.
She made those comments while addressing the launch ceremony of Kisan Card in Hafizabad.
“We do not have a magic wand; we only have the fear instilled in us by Allah and the passion to make a difference,” she said while discussing her government’s commitment to improving the lives of farmers through ongoing efforts.
Maryam said, “The Kisan Card initiative was initially planned to be launched by Nawaz Sharif himself.”
While stating the facts, Punjab CM said, “The Kisan Card would free farmers from the clutches of middlemen and blackmailers. Over 1.2 million applications have been received for the Kisan Card, and the budget for the initial 500,000 cards has been increased to 750,000 due to the strong demand from farmers.”
Maryam Nawaz also said, “This time, I faced criticism from both allies and opponents for not purchasing wheat from farmers. However, while I need to consider the public’s bread, I also have to take care of the farmers.”
She also highlighted the need to create policies that would not harm her farmer brothers, noting that the Kisan Card is a crucial step in this regard. She said, “We are directly reaching farmers through the Kisan Card.”
The distribution of the Kisan Card will commence in the first week of September. Maryam assured farmers that they would receive full compensation for their hard work and would not be subject to blackmail.
The Chief Minister of Punjab further added, “Middlemen often purchase wheat from farmers; it is the government that should be ensuring fair prices. To support this initiative, the government is providing interest-free loans of up to PKR 150,000 to farmers.”
She also addressed the rising prices of agricultural inputs and stated, “The price of urea, which was previously PKR 6,000 per bag, has now been reduced to PKR 4,400, and the cost of wheat seeds has also decreased. Within a few days, farmers have made purchases totaling PKR 6 billion using the Kisan Card, primarily for wheat seeds, agricultural medicines, and fertilizers.”
Maryam also assured the public that there would be no need for bribery to obtain the Kisan Card, as they would be delivered directly to farmers’ homes.
She further added that “the Punjab government will offer a subsidy of PKR 1 million on tractors, and machinery will be available for rent in every tehsil. The initiative also includes plans to provide solar systems to alleviate the burden of expensive electricity costs on farmers.”
“We are going to cultivate potatoes, onions, and tomatoes in every city,” said Maryam Nawaz. She announced that a package of PKR 3 billion will be used to help the poor manage their kitchens by growing these essential vegetables.
She noted that during the period of political unrest, when the stock market was plummeting, it has now risen to 91,000. When Nawaz Sharif’s government left office, the stock market was at 55,000, and now, under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership once again, it has reached 91,000.
Maryam Nawaz added, “The PKR 500 billion package for farmers is not just a political slogan. It is through serving them day and night that their hunger is alleviated:Simply shouting political slogans and then going home to sleep under a blanket does not feed the poor.”
