Punjab’s Additional Chief Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo ordered faster farmer support, reviewed cotton and rice crop performance, and urged stronger technical guidance as rice cultivation exceeded 6m acres. He also conducted a surprise inspection in Multan and pushed fertilizer availability.

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Punjab’s Additional Chief Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo has directed agriculture officials to accelerate technical support for farmers as the province reviews the performance of cotton, rice and other major crops.

Sahoo issued the directives during a meeting in Multan that examined the province’s agricultural situation, farmer guidance measures and initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural activity.

Officials told the meeting that the cotton crop was in satisfactory condition across Punjab, while rice cultivation had exceeded 6 million acres against the government’s target of 5 million acres.

Sahoo said the government considered agricultural development and farmer prosperity among its key priorities, directing field formations of the Agriculture Department to continue their farmer-support activities without interruption.

He stressed the importance of cotton to the national economy and called for the government’s strategy for reviving the crop to be implemented fully.

The additional chief secretary also ordered officials to step up technical guidance to farmers to improve the quality and overall output of rice.

He further called on Regional Agriculture Forums to contribute more actively to agricultural development by making full use of their professional expertise, while appreciating the performance of the Agriculture Department’s field formations.

The meeting was attended by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Asif Ali, Special Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Sarfraz Hussain Magsi, Agriculture Department directors general Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon, Dr Aamir Rasool and Dr Sajid-ur-Rehman, Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, Syed Hassan Raza, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Bandesha and other officials from the Agriculture and Irrigation departments.

Additional Secretary Task Force Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Director General Crop Reporting Dr Abdul Qayyum, Agriculture Department Consultant Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali and other officials participated online.

Following the meeting, Sahoo conducted a surprise inspection of the Model Agriculture Mall in Multan. He directed officials to ensure that sufficient quantities of fertilisers remained available at the facility.

Published Date: August 9, 2026