A ceremony was held in Rawalpindi under the Chief Minister of Punjab’s Agriculture Graduate Internship Program, with Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Raja Hanif attending as the chief guest. During the event, Raja Hanif was briefed on the key features and objectives of the internship program. Under the initiative, selected agriculture graduates will receive a monthly stipend of Rs70,000.
Iftikhar Shah Bukhari, Director of Agriculture for the Rawalpindi Division, stated that a total of 66 agriculture interns have been recruited in the division against an approved quota of 76 for 2026. The interns have been deployed across the division as follows: 14 in Rawalpindi District, 5 in Jhelum, 12 in Chakwal, 9 in Talagang, 2 in Murree, and 24 in Attock.
It is worth mentioning here that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had approved a monthly stipend of Rs70,000 for agriculture interns as part of the provincial government’s efforts to engage young graduates and modernise the agriculture sector.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the chief minister, where she called for greater involvement of young professionals in agriculture through practical training, innovation and field-based experience.
Under the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” programme, agriculture interns will receive hands-on experience in farm management and participate in new agricultural initiatives aimed at improving productivity and introducing modern farming practices.
Maryam Nawaz said Punjab’s talented youth would have an important role in transforming the province’s agriculture sector.
Rooftop hydroponic farming launched
The provincial government has also approved rooftop hydroponic farming projects, marking the first such initiative in Punjab.
According to officials, rooftops as small as two marlas can accommodate between 280 and 350 plants using specially designed structures and polythene sheets.
As part of the initiative, 10 pilot projects will be established in Lahore in collaboration with housing societies to promote urban farming and make better use of available rooftop spaces.
10,000 diesel tube wells to be solarised
The meeting also approved a scheme to convert 10,000 diesel-powered tube wells to solar energy across Punjab. The initiative is aimed at reducing farmers’ reliance on diesel and promoting more sustainable and cost-effective agricultural practices.
Under the Punjab Agriculture Mechanisation Project, the government also plans to distribute 28,000 super seeders by 2028 to improve crop-residue management and help reduce the environmental impact of traditional farming practices.
Green Tractor Programme enters Phase IV
The chief minister approved Phase IV of the CM Green Tractor Programme, with increased subsidies for farmers. Under the new phase, the subsidy for high-horsepower tractors will be Rs 1.5 million, while the subsidy for low-horsepower tractors has been increased from Rs 500,000 to Rs 700,000.