Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed urgent reforms to make low-cost agricultural loans more accessible to small and medium-scale farmers across Pakistan.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on Tuesday, the premier emphasized that improving credit access for rural farmers is vital to boosting the agriculture sector and uplifting Pakistan’s rural economy.
“Small-scale farmers face immense challenges in securing low-cost loans,” said PM Shehbaz. “Providing them with easier access to affordable credit is among the government’s top priorities.”
The Prime Minister directed authorities to accelerate reforms in Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL)—Pakistan’s key agri-financing institution—and to encourage private banks to step up in offering concessional lending for farmers.
He announced that he will personally review progress every three weeks, highlighting the government’s commitment to removing barriers and ensuring accountability.
🏦 Key Decisions:
Speed up reforms at ZTBL
Motivate private banks to support agricultural lending
Launch simplified loan procedures for small-scale farmers
Ensure respect and dignity in farmer-bank interactions
Regular monitoring at the Prime Ministerial level
Officials from ZTBL presented updates on their ongoing reform efforts and shared strategies to improve agricultural lending practices. The role of private banks in supporting agri-credit disbursement was also reviewed.
Among those present were Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain and Ahsan Iqbal, advisors Muhammad Ali and Haroon Akhtar, State Ministers Bilal Azhar Kayani and Abdul Rehman Kanju, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad, and other top officials.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed his government’s commitment to agricultural development and financial inclusion, particularly for the country’s underserved rural population.
