LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday conducted digital balloting of the ‘CM Punjab Green Tractor Programme’, “relaunching” Nawaz Sharif’s green tractor scheme for farmers in the province after a lapse of 12 years.

The earlier scheme was named after her ex-premier father, who is also PML-N supremo.

”A Rs1 million subsidy will be given on each tractor to 9,500 farmers under the scheme,” the chief minister said addressing the balloting ceremony, where she inspected four types of tractors to be given to the farmers and also drove one of the vehicles. She described the tractor drive as a pleasant experience.

She was told that initially 339 farmers in Okara, 111 in Chakwal and 276 in Dera Ghazi Khan will get tractors under the scheme.

The CM congratulated all farmers who got green tractors, saying names of all lucky winners had been displayed on the scheme’s portal and the website of provincial agriculture department.

She announced that green tractors will also be given free of cost to the farmers growing wheat on 25-50 acres, through balloting.

Meanwhile, USAID Mission Director Veeraya Kate Somvongsiri, US Consul General Kristin Hawkins and USAID Punjab Chapter representative Arisha Bano called on the CM.

The delegation discussed Pak-US relations and ways to further strengthen the ties between the two countries in various sectors.

Both side agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, climate change, renewable energy, women’s economic empowerment, health care and education.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2024