LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is determined to make Pakistan peaceful, prosperous and strong, and the past is witness to the fact that every step taken by the PML-N government was aimed at progress and prosperity of the country. He said that the PML-N government had taken historic measures for the speedy development in the country and introduced new culture by saving billions of rupees in mega development projects. In a statement, the chief minister said that new examples of standard and transparency had been set by the PML-N government, and nobody could level allegation of corruption of even a single penny in development projects. He said development and progress of the country is our mission and the people have always elected us on our steps of development of the country and prosperity of the people. He said that PML-N has the credit of promoting constructive and positive approach in the country and added that now the country is more strong and peaceful than before. He said the situation demands that the entire nation will have to be united for the development of the country. Meanwhile, talking to elected representatives on Saturday, Shehbaz Sharif said that the measures taken for the welfare of farmers under Kissan Package had yielded positive results and the billions of rupees package had provided relief to the farmers in the real sense. Bumper crop of wheat this year has benefited small farmers, he added. He said that cultivated area besides production of crops has also been increased and bumper crops next year will also economically strengthen the farmers. Shehbaz Sharif said that farmers are his brothers and their welfare is very dear to him. He said that PML-N government has protected the rights of farmers at every level and added that the program aimed at providing interest free loans to farmers is a milestone in agriculture sector. Interest free loans have been provided to over one lakh 60 thousand small farmers in a short period of six months. He said that interest free loans of 100 billion rupees are being given to farmers owing 12 acre of land and six lakh farmers will benefit from this program in Punjab. He said that Punjab government has given right to small farmers through provision of interest free loans and program of interest free loans is an important step towards empowering farmers. He said first time in the history of the country interest free loans are being given to small farmers and this program is being implemented at the fast track. He said that agri production will increase and small farmers will become prosperous through this programme. This programme will prove to be a source of bringing green revolution in the real sense in the province. The Chief Minister said that transparent and foolproof system has been adopted through modern technology for implementing this programme and added that only small farmers will benefit from it. He said that landless farmers are also benefiting from this programme while the procedure of getting loans by farmers has been made easy through digital system. The Chief Minister said that thousands of kilometres long carpeted roads have been built in rural area under Khadam-e-Punjab Rural Roads Program at a cost of billions of rupees. He said this program will go a long way in modernizing rural areas and farmers will be able to take their crops in markets in time. He said agriculture is backbone of economy in Pakistan and guarantees development and progress in the country and a source of earning foreign exchange. He said for this reason Punjab government attaches top priority to the agriculture sector and revolutionary measures have been taken for the promotion of agriculture, welfare of small farmers and increasing agriculture production. Published in Daily Times, August 13th 2017.