Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced the introduction of the Benazir Hari Card, which will enable farmers to perform banking transactions and access subsidies via ATMs.
This initiative aims to consolidate information for transparent and efficient implementation of agricultural interventions.
Presiding over a meeting with the agriculture department on Wednesday, CM Murad Ali Shah said, “Our Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directed the launch of the Benazir Hari Card to support growers and boost agricultural development, which is the backbone of our economy.”
The meeting, attended by Minister Agriculture Mohammad Bux Mahar, Secretary Agriculture Rafiq Buriro, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi, and others, discussed the finalized mechanism for the card’s issuance.
The Sindh Cabinet sub-Committee on Hari Card, formed under the Minister of Agriculture, submitted detailed recommendations on April 2, 2024. All agricultural landholders are eligible, regardless of landholding size.
Over 150,000 verified farmers will initially receive cards under the Wheat Seed Cash Reimbursement Program. Farmers need valid Form –VII documents verified by the revenue department. Only one owner can register for jointly owned land with a No Objection Affidavit from other joint owners, verified by NADRA and the concerned Mukhtiarkar. F armers with multiple landholdings will be eligible for one card with a cumulative landholding.
The Agriculture Department will collaborate with top technology firms to develop the necessary software and apps through the Sindh Water Agriculture Transformation Project (SWAT), involving the World Bank.
A comprehensive system will outline specific roles and responsibilities for stakeholders, including the Revenue and Agriculture Departments, Banks, and beneficiaries.
An IT-based system with reliable backup will facilitate registration. The Revenue Department will upload data into the Agriculture Department’s web/app. Agriculture and Board of Revenue officials will jointly verify and geo-tag farm locations. Verified data will be sent to a partner bank for NADRA verification and card issuance.
The Benazir Hari Card will allow farmers to make deposits, withdrawals, balance checks, transfers, and access subsidies through ATMs. “This versatile functionality ensures that our farmers can manage their finances more efficiently and benefit from government schemes,” CM Murad Ali Shah concluded.
