Quetta: Secretary Agriculture Balochistan Noor Ahmed Pirkani on Wednesday said that Balochistan government has formally approved the issuance of Benazir Kisan Card for the welfare of farmers across the province, under which an agreement has been signed with HBL Konnect.
Under the agreement, bank accounts of landowners will be opened through HBL so that financial assistance can be provided in a transparent manner.
This decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Secretary Agriculture Balochistan Noor Ahmed Pirkani, which was attended by Director General Agriculture Extension Masood Baloch and other relevant officers.
The meeting was informed that the Balochistan government would provide financial assistance to farmers in the form of subsidies from time to time, which would include the purchase of seeds, fertilizers, agricultural chemicals and agricultural machinery.
For the convenience of farmers, a web-page named ‘Kisan Balochistan’ has been developed, where farmers could register themselves online.
In addition, registration facility has also been provided through the offices of the Deputy Director Agriculture Extension in the relevant districts and through the mobile app (Benazir Kisan Card).
The officials clarified that those landowners who would not register could not be issued Benazir Kisan Cards. It was informed in the meeting that so far, the registration of 80,000 farmers has been completed in different districts of Balochistan.
While the Secretary Agriculture has ordered action against the deputy directors of the districts where the registration process is slow. At the end of the meeting, it was expressed that the Benazir Kisan Card project should play an important role in the development of the agricultural sector in the province and improving the economic condition of landowners.