By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Punjab, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, chaired a review meeting on cotton, inaugurated the Farmer Facilitation Center, and inspected the under-construction building of the Agri Mall during his visit to Multan.
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He stated that cotton cultivation for the current season has been completed on 3.3 million acres. For the first time in the country’s history, the target of early cotton sowing on 850,000 acres has also been successfully achieved. He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting related to cotton at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Agricultural University, Multan.
The meeting was attended by Chairman National Seed Authority Dr. Asif Ali, Vice Chancellor of MNS Agricultural University Professor Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Rajwana, Special Secretary Agriculture (South Punjab) Sarfraz Hussain Magsi, Additional Secretary Task Force Rana Shabbir Ahmad Khan, former MPA Rana Ijaz Ahmad Noon, Directors General Agriculture Punjab Chaudhry Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon, Dr. Amir Rasool, Dr. Abdul Qayyum, Dr. Sajid-ur-Rehman, Agriculture Department Consultant Dr. Muhammad Anjum Ali, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Bandesha, Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, along with officials from the Irrigation Department and a large number of representatives from farmer organizations.
Later, Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Punjab, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, visited the under-construction Model Agriculture Mall in Multan. During the visit, Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, as well as representatives from the Green Pakistan Initiative including Afaaq Tawanah and Abu Sufyan, were also present. The Minister reviewed the pace and quality of the ongoing construction work. During a briefing, the Executive Engineer (Buildings) informed the Minister that the construction of the Model Agriculture Mall would be completed by June 30. The representatives of the Green Pakistan Initiative informed Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo that the facility would be fully operational by August 15.
Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani stated that for the provision of agricultural services under one roof, four Model Agriculture Malls are being established in Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, and Sargodha at a total cost of Rs. 1.25 billion. These projects are being implemented under the supervision of Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo. He further added that during the second phase of this program, ten more Model Agriculture Malls will be established across the province.
During his visit, Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Punjab, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, also inaugurated the Farmer Facilitation Center located at Nag Shah Chowk, Multan. On the occasion, he stated that 43 Farmer Facilitation Centers have been established in cotton-growing tehsils where farmers can access quality pesticides and spray machinery under one roof at subsidized Pleaseprices. He instructed that price lists must be clearly displayed at all centers and daily purchase records of farmers should be maintained. The Minister emphasized that these centers should be used to provide maximum support and facilities to farmers.
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