Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the disbursement of wheat support payments through the Kisan Card, offering Rs5,000 per acre to 600,000 farmers across the province.

Chairing a special meeting in Lahore on Monday, she confirmed that the subsidy would also be extended to farmers without a Kisan Card, ensuring broad coverage.

She added that billions more would be allocated in subsidies for the upcoming crop season.

The chief minister highlighted that farmers have already used Rs36 billion in loans for agricultural inputs through the Kisan Card programme, with 60% approximately Rs22 billion already repaid.

Maryam Nawaz also announced the release of the second installment under the Kisan Card initiative for the new crop.

During the meeting, officials reviewed the proposed solarization of agricultural tube wells and discussed strategies to implement the wheat support programme.

Among the proposals was the inclusion of land contractors alongside landowners and the verification of 50% of submitted subsidy applications.