Chairman of the Senate, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, today called for urgent reforms to make agricultural loans more accessible and transparent for ordinary cultivators, stressing the need to simplify disbursement procedures to alleviate the financial hardships faced by the nation”s farming community.
The call for action came during a meeting with Tahir Yaqoob Bhatti, President of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), at Parliament House. The discussion focused on the overall condition of the agricultural sector, the challenges confronting producers, and ongoing initiatives aimed at national agricultural development.
Mr Bhatti briefed the Chairman Senate on the bank’s credit programmes designed for farmers and landowners. He detailed the provision of timely financial assistance for essential inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, and agricultural machinery, all aligned with modern requirements to strengthen the agri-sector.
The ZTBL President also outlined special relief schemes for small-scale farmers and medium-sized landowners. These initiatives feature loans with easy instalments, reduced markup rates, and transparent procedures to ensure wider accessibility, measures expected to directly benefit cultivators and bolster agriculture”s role in the national economy.
Appreciating ZTBL’s efforts, Chairman Gilani described agriculture as the “backbone of Pakistan’s economy and stated that providing relief to the farming community remains a national priority. He reaffirmed that Parliament would continue to extend its full support for farmer-friendly policies and sectoral development.
Mr Gilani further emphasised ZTBL’s pivotal role in promoting agricultural prosperity, rural development, and food security by financially empowering farmers.
He concluded by underscoring the necessity to maximise relief for poor and deserving farmers to effectively ease their financial difficulties, insisting that the loan process must be made more straightforward and accessible to ensure meaningful agricultural growth and rural prosperity.