LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that agriculture is the backbone of the national economy. Talking to a delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers here on Sunday, the chief minister said that advancement in agriculture and livestock sectors could help eradicate poverty and unemployment from the country. Recounting some of the initiatives launched by the PML-N government for the uplift of the agriculture sector, Shehbaz said interest-free small loans worth billions of rupees were being given to smallholders for the first time in the history of Pakistan. He said that development of agriculture sector was the top priority of the government and added that farmer-friendly policies were being chalked out to boost the sector. The chief minister said that progressive strides had been taken to increase per acre production to change the condition of small farmers and added that resources of billions of rupees had been allocated for self-reliance of small farmers. “Decrease in electricity tariff for tube-wells, supply of fertilisers at cheapest rates and provision of agricultural goods at discounted prices have facilitated small cultivators,” he added. Shehbaz Sharif said that the Kissan Package and interest-free loans programme would bring about a revolution in the agriculture sector of the country. He said that a transparent and foolproof system had been devised to implement the programme wherein billions of rupees had been distributed to small farmers. In another statement issued on Sunday, the chief minister appreciated the performance of Punjab medical team for effectively dealing with dengue epidemic in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that all-out resources and cooperation should be extended to the KP government. He directed members of the medical team and the mobile health unit to work round-the-clock to provide medical services to patients. Meanwhile, the chief minister has directed authorities concerned to ensure safe recovery of kidnapped police personnel in Kacha area of Rajanpur at the earliest. He has also sought a report from Punjab Police inspector general. Published in Daily Times, August 211st 2017.