By Asim Shehzad
LAHORE: Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan says that discussions about farmers take place in luxurious hotels, yet farmers themselves continue to rely on agricultural equipment from the 1960s.
Speaking at an awareness programme on zinc fortification of wheat in Lahore, the Speaker said he was pleased that farmers’ issues were being highlighted, but regretted that their real conditions remain unchanged. He noted that poor farmers are often discussed in high-rise buildings and grand venues, but little is done to transform their lives.
He said the Punjab government is offering subsidies, reward schemes and farmer cards, but the agriculture sector has remained stagnant for decades. Despite research and technological progress, the same seeds and threshers used in the 1960s are still in operation today, he added.
The Speaker emphasised the need to strengthen, expand and modernise initiatives for farmers to ensure sustainable progress in Punjab’s agriculture sector.
Agri experts, including Agahi Chief Executive Mubarak Ali, also spoke on the occasion.
30-word summary:
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan criticised outdated farming practices and said farmers still use 1960s equipment despite government schemes. He urged stronger, expanded and modernised measures to uplift the agriculture sector.
Tags:
Punjab Assembly, agriculture, farmers, Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Punjab government, farming technology, wheat fortification, agriculture reforms, Lahore event, farmer welfare
