SHEIKHUPURA, Nov 12: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani says the government is making all-out efforts to attain food autarky.

Speaking at the wheat-sowing ceremony here on Wednesday at the Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku, he urged cultivators to avail themselves of the facilities being provided by the government in the agricultural sector.

Before arrival of the prime minister, a scuffle erupted among activists of the PPP and the PML-N over display of portraits of their leaders at the venue. Both sides picked up chairs and created a scene. A large number of law enforcers deployed there intervened and normalised the atmosphere.

The prime minister said Rs32 billion had already been earmarked for a subsidy on fertiliser, besides ensuring provision of high quality seeds.

He said under the Benazir Income Support Programme, the federal government had set aside Rs34 billion to extend financial assistance to the poorest of the poor.

Gilani said an amount of Rs8 billion was being spent on the improvement of water courses to check seepage and ensure that it reached tail ends.

He said wheat support price had also been increased substantially and fixed at Rs950 per 40kg with the aim to encourage farmers to grow maximum quantity of grains. He said Passco had already started rice procurement and the government would ensure that growers get fixed price.

He said the Punjab government was also executing a programme worth Rs20 billion for ameliorating the lot of the poor.

Stating loadshedding one of the main challenges faced by the country, he said: “The government has initiated work on various power projects and the crisis will come to an end within two years.”

Referring to low water discharge in the Chenab from India, the premier said Pakistan would get due share of its water royalty according to the Indus Water Treaty as he had talked to his Indian counterpart who assured it.

Earlier, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the government was providing tractors under Green Tractor Scheme to farmers.

Meanwhile speaking at a public meeting at Mandi Usmanwali, Kasur, the prime minister said the present government did no want a clash among the institutions in Pakistan as it would result in nothing but catastrophe.

“The government believes in strengthening of the institutions.”

Governor Salmaan Taseer, former foreign minister Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali, senior provincial minister Raja Riaz, Punjab PPP President Rana Aftab Ahmad and local parliamentarians were present on the occasion.

The premier announced Rs420 million for uplift projects in Mandi Usmanwali, the hometown of Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali.

Gilani also announced the establishment of Bulleh Shah University at Kasur.

The prime minister said the government employees removed in 1996 and 1997 would soon be reinstated. He said a grid station would soon be established in the area to meet the electricity requirements.

Gilani announced upgradation of two primary schools to high schools, and the establishment of two colleges, one for boys and girls each. He also announced the establishment of a vocational college for 2,000 students from the PM’s fund.

Later, he inaugurated Sui gas in Mandi Usmanwali.