Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday announced a massive Rs55 billion subsidy package for wheat growers, saying the support price should not be set below Rs4,000 per maund to protect farmers’ interests.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, the chief minister said the Sindh government has accepted the federal government’s proposed support price but wants to give additional relief to small farmers to increase wheat cultivation across the province.

He said each small farmer would receive one bag of DAP and two bags of urea free of cost through the Hari Card system.

“Every farmer will get Rs14,000 per acre for DAP and, after field verification, an additional Rs8,000 for urea,” Shah explained, adding that field officers will verify land under wheat cultivation before the subsidy is disbursed.

CM Shah said the initiative would help boost Sindh’s wheat output, as many small farmers cannot afford fertilisers due to high input costs.

“When DAP is not used, the yield drops. This subsidy ensures better cultivation,” he said.

The chief minister stressed that farmers should be encouraged through incentives, adding that wheat procurement will prioritise small growers.

He said restrictions on wheat movement between provinces were unconstitutional and could negatively affect wheat supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Commenting on taxation, CM Shah said small farmers should be exempted from the agricultural income tax, which has forced many to sell their land.

“Agricultural tax should be based on the old system,” he added.

The chief minister said Sindh will assist around 411,000 farmers under the new subsidy scheme.

“If the support price is not fair, farmers will stop growing wheat. We want them to get value for money and be motivated to grow more,” he asserted.

He also remarked that it was a matter of pride to serve Sindh and reiterated that there was a national consensus on sending Afghan nationals back to their country.