LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated Phase-III of the CM Green Tractor Programme and formally launched the balloting process, reiterating her government’s commitment to strengthening the province’s agricultural backbone. Congratulating the successful applicants, the chief minister personally telephoned one of the winners, Hamza Liaquat of Bahawalpur, to convey her greetings. “This is your CM Maryam Nawaz speaking. Your name has been selected in the balloting — congratulations to you and your family,” she said during the call, adding that the initiative was aimed at empowering small farmers and boosting farm productivity. Maryam Nawaz said the Green Tractor Scheme was transforming Punjab’s agricultural landscape and reaffirmed that the Pakistan Muslim League (N) had always prioritised farmers’ welfare through targeted support and modernisation initiatives.
During a detailed briefing, Provincial Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani informed the chief minister that 427,000 farmers owning up to five acres had applied for Phase-III of the scheme. He highlighted that while only 20,000 tractors were distributed over the past 25 years, a record 31,000 tractors had been provided to farmers across Punjab during the last two years alone.
Officials noted that tractor prices in Pakistan had more than doubled over the past five years, making it increasingly difficult for small and medium-scale farmers to afford mechanised equipment at market rates. In response, the provincial government prioritised agricultural mechanisation in 2024 to enhance productivity and reduce input costs.
Two phases of the CM Green Tractor Programme have already been completed, with 21,000 tractors distributed. Under the current phase, an additional 10,000 tractors ranging from 50 to 65 horsepower will be provided to eligible farmers through balloting. The briefing further revealed that Punjab currently has around 140 tractors per 10,000 acres, less than half the ratio in many developed agricultural economies, underscoring the urgent need to expand mechanisation to sustain growth in the province’s farm sector.
