ISLAMABAD:The representative of the State Bank of Pakistan, Umar Sadiq Khattak, has assured that farmers in Gilgit-Baltistan will be provided with loans on easy terms to promote agricultural development in the region. He stated that all scheduled banks operating in the area would be instructed to facilitate this initiative.
Khattak highlighted the vast potential for agricultural growth in Gilgit-Baltistan, emphasizing that utilizing these opportunities is essential. He stressed the need to resolve farmers’ issues and provide them with opportunities for a dignified livelihood. The State Bank of Pakistan, he assured, would offer comprehensive support to farmers in the region.
He made these remarks while meeting with Raza-ul-Haq Madani, President of the Gilgit-Baltistan Farmers Association, and Ijaz Ali Dilshad, President of the Regional Farmers Organization of Baltistan, at his office in Islamabad on Tuesday evening. During the meeting, Madani and Dilshad briefed him on the challenges faced by farmers and the barriers hindering agricultural progress in the region. They urged the State Bank to play an active role in addressing these issues.
In response, Umar Sadiq Khattak stated that agricultural produce from Gilgit-Baltistan, including fruits and vegetables, could generate significant revenue if introduced to international markets. He announced that scheduled banks would soon receive directives to begin providing easy-term loans to local farmers immediately, ensuring that their problems are addressed at their doorstep. He further emphasized that Gilgit-Baltistan’s agricultural sector would receive special attention and that every possible effort would be made to uplift the farming community.
Additionally, he revealed that a major agricultural fair would be organized in Skardu at the end of April or the beginning of May. The purpose of this event would be to raise awareness and educate local farmers. Efforts would be made to bring as many farmers as possible to the fair so they could benefit from the knowledge and opportunities provided.
During the meeting, Raza-ul-Haq Madani and Ijaz Ali Dilshad stressed that the economy of Gilgit-Baltistan heavily relies on agriculture. However, due to a lack of attention from various sectors, farmers face numerous challenges, including the absence of agricultural loans. They asserted that without access to credit, the agricultural sector in the region cannot progress. Small-scale loans, they suggested, could help uplift farmers and enable them to cultivate barren lands, ultimately strengthening their economic standing.
They urged both government and private institutions to play an active role in bringing these lands under cultivation, which would provide economic stability to farmers and contribute to the overall development of the region.
