Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Inaugurates Direct Cash Transfers for Haris
In a move aimed at strengthening farm incomes and supporting wheat production in Sindh, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari unveiled a direct cash transfer initiative under the Sindh Government’s Wheat Growers Support Programme 2025. The scheme targets smallholder farmers, referred to as haris, and is designed to streamline access to essential farming inputs.
What the Programme Entails
The flagship program provides direct cash assistance to haris, enabling them to purchase critical fertilisers such as DAP and urea. By replacing traditional subsidy channels with direct transfers, the Sindh government aims to reduce leakage, ensure timely input supply, and improve crop yields. The € approach places emphasis on transparency and efficiency, allowing farmers to make timely purchases aligned with the planting and growth cycles of the wheat season.
How It Works
Under the scheme, eligible haris receive funds directly to their accounts or through linked payment methods. They can then buy DAP and urea fertilisers from approved input suppliers or designated procurement points. The decentralised transfer model is intended to empower farmers to manage their resources while ensuring that subsidies reach the intended recipients rather than intermediary channels.
Impacts for Sindh’s Agricultural Sector
Advocates of the programme argue that direct cash transfers could reduce delays in input procurement during critical growth periods. By enabling haris to choose where to purchase fertilisers, the scheme may also foster competition among suppliers and improve price awareness among farmers. If successful, the approach could serve as a blueprint for other agricultural subsidies within the province and beyond.
Public-Private and Administrative Roles
The initiative involves coordination between Sindh’s agriculture department, local administrative bodies, and participating fertiliser suppliers. Rollout logistics include farmer registration drives, verification of eligibility, and monitoring mechanisms to track fund utilisation. Officials say the process will be continuously refined to address bottlenecks and ensure equitable access for haris across districts.
Context and Public Reception
The launch comes amid ongoing discussions about subsidy reforms in Pakistan’s agricultural sector. Supporters highlight the potential for improved transparency and farmer welfare, while critics may call attention to the need for robust safeguards against misallocation and delays. As the scheme expands, stakeholders will be watching for measurable outcomes, including input uptake, wheat yields, and overall farmer income stability.
What’s Next
Officials indicate that the 2025 cycle will be followed by assessment reports and possible scalability depending on initial results. If the direct cash transfer mechanism proves effective, more crops and input types could be incorporated, broadening the scope of targeted subsidies under Sindh’s agricultural policy framework.
