Bilawal inaugurates Benazir Hari Card to enable small farmers to access instant cash assistance & soft loans

KARACHI, Oct 14 (SABAH): PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari inaugurated the Benazir Hari Card, to enable small farmers to access instant cash assistance and soft loans.

The Sindh Cabinet had approved the programme on September 23, 2024.

During the launch occasion, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced that 1.4 million small farmers have been registered under the scheme. The 70% farmers are between 1 to 12.5 acres of land.

Priority will be given to cardholders in the procurement of quality seeds, fertilizers, and wheat by the government, it is said. The scheme will also facilitate access to agricultural machinery, solar tube wells, crop insurance, and targeted support in case of natural disasters.

Farmers with up to 12.5 acres of land will receive cash grants ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per acre, while those holding more than 25 acres will receive Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per acre.

The card allocation will be managed by Assistant Commissioners while district-level committees by Deputy Commissioners.

Commissioners will be heads of divisional committees. A ministerial committee will supervise the overall process, it is said.