Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed swift reforms in the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) and emphasized the urgent need to provide low-interest loans to small- and medium-scale farmers.
The directive came during a high-level review meeting focused on agricultural credit access and institutional reforms.
Small farmers at the heart of agricultural growth
The PM stressed that increasing agricultural production is impossible without empowering small landholders.
"Farmers with small landholdings must be given respect and honour. They face significant hurdles in accessing loans, and this must change," said Shehbaz Sharif.
He reiterated that providing easy and affordable agricultural loans is the government’s top priority to support farmers in meeting their seasonal and long-term needs.
ZTBL reforms to be reviewed every 3 weeks
The premier announced he would personally review progress on ZTBL reforms every three weeks, ensuring consistent oversight and timely implementation of new strategies.
Suggestions to improve the performance of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) and expand its reach to underserved farmers were presented during the meeting.
Involving private banks in agricultural credit
Participants were also briefed on the role of private banks in offering credit to the agricultural sector. The PM instructed that private financial institutions be encouraged to provide soft-term loans to small farmers, further reducing dependency on a single institution.
He called for coordinated efforts between the government, public banks, and private lenders to improve farmers’ access to credit and streamline the application process.
