LAHORE, May 18: The Punjab government has decided to take urban farming seriously by forming project implementation committees down to tehsil level.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif chaired on Wednesday a meeting to evolve a system to promote kitchen gardening in the province, says a press release.

He sought forming of committees at tehsil, district and provincial levels and that he would chair the meetings of the provincial body every month.

He said that those interested in kitchen gardening should be encouraged so that maximum vegetables in cities and suburban areas as well as at state land, parks, spare land of educational institutions and other places could be grown to help increase production of vegetables and stabilize their prices.

Under the first phase of the project, 30,000 seed kits have already been distributed while the second phase will start in July.

Mr Sharif said the participation of civil society should also be ensured in the project and special lectures should be arranged to mobilise students.

He said the Agriculture Department should first promote kitchen gardening and then give them due publicity for promoting the trend.

The department was asked to arrange road shows and an effective media campaign of the project besides identifying suitable areas for kitchen gardening.

He issued instructions for setting up a committee for the implementation of kitchen gardening project at the provincial level and directed that a sub-committee should also be established headed by the provincial minister for agriculture and elected representatives as members.

A sub-committee was also formed to oversee and monitor the bodies formed at district and tehsil levels and would meet thrice a month.