MULTAN, Nov 6th: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that 2018 would be a year of progress and prosperity. electricity, gas and other facilities would be available everywhere in the country.We never tell a lie as it is not our habit ,we do work in practical. we do love to the farmers and it was not mere lip service. He was addressing a bid gathering of farmers in new stadium of Lodhran where Prime Minister arrived on Friday to distribute cheques among farmers as a part of Kissan package and also announced a Rs2 billion development package for the district.The PM said that his government acknowledges the hardships a farmer goes through to produce food and exportable crops for the country and for that reason had announced the historic Rs341bn relief package for the community."But you all know who tried to stop government from speedy implementation of this historic package and still claims to represent the poor people of country," the PM told farmers.The PM also announced a special Rs2.5billion development package for Lodhran and said that the way people of the area have expressed their love for PML-N by voting for the party again and again, the party too will pay back in the same way.He said that the scheme for affordable and cost effective 'solar tube well' has been approved.Although I have been asked to provide Rs2 billion but I will provide Rs2.5 billion for development works in Lodhran, PM Nawaz said, while addressing farmers during his visit to Lodhran.No government has ever announced such a huge package for farmers in the history of Pakistan, the premier added.In a veiled jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, Nawaz said, Everyone knows who has put hurdles in the implementation of the Kisan relief package.We wanted to implement the Kisan relief package within a week; however, some people put hurdles in our way to support farmers,he claimed.The prime minister went on to say that the government will keep launching other development projects for farmers in the long run, vowing that the incumbent government will eliminate power load shedding by the end of 2017.Further, the prime minister announced construction of two fly overs, a commerce college, an agriculture university. PM Nawaz also announced construction of a motorway in Lodhran which he said will not only bring prosperity but will also connect the city to Karachi and Lahore.Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed accompanied him during the visit.The Kisan package, announced in September, is aimed at providing cash support of Rs5,000 with immediate effect to the growers of cotton and rice as a direct relief. The amount will be disbursed among the farmers owning a maximum of 12.5 acres of land.Interest-free loans for farmers with 12 acres or less to install solar tubewells or convert the existing ones into solar. Mark-up on the loans will be paid by the federal government.The government pledges to provide relaxation in turnover tax to rice millers as compensation during 2015-16 to minimise their losses. Similarly, there would be a tax holiday on income tax for the cold chain industry trading in agricultural products, fruits, vegetables and fish.
