Pakistan, July 5 -- The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has expressed concern over the exclusion of small farmers from Punjab and Sindh in a new Risk Coverage Scheme. The scheme, developed to provide financial support to farmers in underserved areas, currently covers only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The ECC has now asked the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to revisit the eligibility criteria and present a revised plan.

The scheme is designed to operate from FY27 to FY31 with a budget of Rs37.5 billion. It includes Rs30 billion for risk coverage and Rs7.5 billion for operational expenses. Farmers will be eligible for loans up to Rs3 million, with a repayment period of 12 months, extended to 18 months for sugarcane producers.

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