Advisor to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Agriculture Mian Muhammad Umar chaired an Khuli Kachari organised by Agriculture Department in Nowshera, where farmers presented their concerns, grievances and suggestions relating to agriculture sector.
Khuli Kachari was attended by member Provincial Assembly Zar Alam Khan, Secretary Agriculture Dr Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khan, directors general of various wings of Agriculture Department, executive engineers irrigation and public health engineering departments, Farmer and other relevant officials.
Addressing the participants, Advisor Agriculture Main Muhammad Umar said that in line with vision of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and directives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, Khuli Kachari were being held across province to hear public grievances directly and ensure their effective resolution.
He thanked Agriculture Department officials and farming community for their active participation and valuable input, saying that resolving farmers problems remained a top priority of both provincial government and Agriculture Department. He added that proposals to provide subsidies to farmers under various schemes were also under consideration.
Main Umar said there was no room for corrupt elements in the Agriculture Department and warned that strict and indiscriminate action would be taken against anyone found involved in corruption. He added that provincial government remained in constant contact with public and that public welfare continued to be among its foremost priorities.
Referring to irrigation-related issues, advisor Agriculture said that capacity of Water Management Wing would be further strengthened to ensure long-term solutions for farmers. He said modern irrigation technologies were being introduced to improve water use efficiency and enhance agricultural productivity.
He also announced that a Soil and Water Laboratory would soon be established in Nowshera, enabling farmers to have scientific testing of their soil and water carried out locally.
Responding to questions regarding the irrigation system, Mr Umar said a separate Khuli Kachari would soon be convened in Nowshera under chairmanship of provincial minister irrigation to address irrigation-related issues comprehensively. He added that problems concerning Azakhel and Pirpai Canal would also be taken up with Provincial Minister for irrigation to ensure their early resolution.
At the conclusion of Khuli Kachari, participating farmers appreciated provincial government’s initiative of engaging directly with the farming community and welcomed the assurance that practical steps would be taken to address their longstanding issues.