The Chairman National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Internal Affairs, Sardar Talib Hussain has said that the present government was taking steps for agricultural development so that self sufficiency in food production might be ensured. Addressing a public gathering at Pattoki, he said that farmers were being provided loans with less mark-up, and now no farmer would be arrested due to non-payment of loan instalment.

He said agri uplift and rural development was progressing at a fast pace, and civic amenities were being provided in villages to bring them at par with the developed urban areas.

The chairman further highlighted the need for more water reservoirs as essential for all sectors including irrigation and agriculture and said we should build dams in the larger interest of the country otherwise there would be a dire shortage of water in the next few years.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005