By our correspondent
Lahore: In a major push to combat smog and modernize agriculture in Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif unveiled Pakistan’s largest “Super Seeder” project at the Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku. This ambitious initiative aims to reduce pollution through advanced farming methods, marking a significant step toward environmental stewardship and agricultural reform.
At the event, Maryam Nawaz distributed high-tech Super Seeder machines to local farmers. This program will allow farmers to rent cutting-edge machinery at no profit within 60 days, reducing financial burdens and encouraging sustainable practices. “Agricultural development is the backbone of progress,” she declared, emphasizing the need for modern, eco-friendly farming techniques that can alleviate environmental pressures and foster rural prosperity.
The initiative plans to scale up Punjab’s current Super Seeder fleet from 300 to over 1,000 units in the coming year, with an eventual target of 5,000 units over five years. Each Super Seeder, typically priced at PKR 1.3 million, will be subsidized by the government, reducing the cost to farmers by PKR 800,000. This funding approach aims to ease farmers’ financial obligations while bolstering productivity and air quality.
Central to this effort is the commitment to minimizing pollution from crop residue burning, a practice heavily linked to smog in Punjab. Maryam Nawaz highlighted the urgent health risks associated with smog and appealed to the public for collective responsibility. “Mitigating smog is a shared mission,” she urged, encouraging citizens to report and curb industrial emissions and other pollution sources.
To further support farmers, the government will offer additional equipment at a 60% subsidy. Building on the Kisan Card initiative, which has already delivered agricultural resources worth over PKR 10 billion, the program continues to empower farmers, providing fair access to essential inputs without the need for intermediaries.
The launch event featured an emotional moment when an elderly farmer presented Maryam Nawaz with a shawl from Medina, calling her “Dhi Rani” (beloved daughter), a gesture reflecting deep gratitude. The Chief Minister also endorsed other modern tools, such as rice harvesters and straw choppers, designed to optimize crop production while lowering environmental impacts. She directed the Punjab Agriculture Department to make these machines widely available on a rental basis. Provincial Agriculture Minister Ashiq Hussain Kirmani also addressed attendees, reiterating the program’s commitment to advancing both Punjab’s agricultural sector and environmental resilience.
