Agriculture financing in Pakistan has reached Rs1.329 trillion in outstanding credit, serving roughly 3.5 million borrowers, according to the Finance Division. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reviewed the numbers at the sixth meeting of the Access to Finance Steering Committee in Islamabad on 28 October and pressed for quicker disbursements so more farmers and small businesses can borrow.
Outstanding credit and borrower base
The Finance Division’s latest tally puts the stock of unpaid farm-related loans at Rs1.329 trillion. That book now covers about 3.5 million borrowers, a scale the minister treated as a base to build on rather than an end point. At the steering committee meeting he argued that wider access to credit must deliver concrete gains for growers, firms and communities that still struggle to borrow.
Zarkhez scheme loans so far
Under the government’s Zarkhez-e: Asaan Zarai Qarza Scheme—aimed at making farm credit easier to obtain—authorities have approved 20,176 loan applications worth Rs8.674 billion. Of that approved pipeline, 6,132 collateral-free loans, worth about Rs2.34 billion, have already been paid out to smallholder farmers. Collateral-free means borrowers did not have to pledge land or other property as security for those loans.
Faster disbursement and wider farm credit
Aurangzeb called on relevant institutions to speed up agriculture financing in Pakistan and financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—firms that are larger than micro shops but smaller than big industry. He said credit should turn into real benefits for farmers, businesses and underserved communities. The committee also looked at ways to expand lending for livestock and dairy businesses and to draw more private-sector participation across agricultural supply chains, from production through to markets.
Agriculture financing in Pakistan remains a policy priority as officials try to move approved schemes into farmers’ accounts more quickly. Further progress will depend on how fast banks and related institutions disburse remaining approved loans and open new lines for livestock, dairy and SME borrowers.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan mein zarai qarzon ka total ab 1.329 trillion rupay tak pahunch gaya hai, aur lagbhag 3.5 million log is se jude hain. Sarkar ke Asaan Zarai Qarza scheme ke under hazaron chhote kisanon ko bina zamaanat ke qarz mil chuke hain. Wazir-e-Maliya ne kaha ke qarz jaldi milne chahiye taake kisanon aur chhote business ko asl faida ho. Agar aap kisan ya chhota kaarobar chalate hain, to yeh is baat ka ishara hai ke credit ki seedh zyada kholne ki koshish jari hai.
