Maryam Nawaz Announces Punjab Apna Kisan Bank With Interest-Free Loans

Apna Kisan Bank Punjab has been announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, with interest-free loans for farmers at its heart. The announcement was made on Wednesday 28 October 2026 in Lahore, at a meeting with representatives of small, medium and large farmers from across the province.

The chief minister said she was dedicating her birthday to the farming community. The meeting brought together growers from different parts of Punjab, and the bank was presented as a step towards giving farmers easier and cheaper access to credit.

It is important to be clear about the status of the plan. Apna Kisan Bank Punjab has been announced, but no launch date, branch network, application process or detailed eligibility criteria have been published yet. Farmers should therefore treat the announcement as a promise of a new institution, not as a scheme that is already open.

Apna Kisan Bank Punjab: loan tiers announced

The loan structure announced for Apna Kisan Bank Punjab has three tiers, with the cheapest credit reserved for the smallest loans. The table below sets out the tiers exactly as announced.

The zero-markup tier is the headline offer. A farmer borrowing up to Rs1 crore would pay no markup under the announced plan, while larger loans would carry a low rate of 2 per cent or 5 per cent.

A note on the figures is needed. Some secondary reports printed ten times these amounts, at Rs100 million, Rs300 million and Rs500 million, while Bloom, Aaj, Pakistan Today and Daily Pakistan give the Rs1 crore, Rs3 crore and Rs5 crore figures used here. Follow the official Punjab government notification when issued.

What changes for Kisan Card holders

Alongside Apna Kisan Bank Punjab, the chief minister announced a change to the Kisan Card. The per-acre loan limit for buying DAP fertiliser has been raised by Rs3,500, from Rs30,000 to Rs33,500 per acre, in view of rising fertiliser prices.

About one million farmers are benefiting from the Kisan Card, according to the announcement. The card has become one of the main routes through which Punjab farmers receive subsidised inputs, and the higher limit is meant to help growers cope with costlier fertiliser.

Maryam Nawaz also said farmers had received Rs400 billion through the Kisan Card over the past two years. She put loan recovery at close to 100 per cent, and said steps were underway to include tenant farmers and those cultivating leased land.

Wheat support price and the wider farm package

The government will ensure implementation of the wheat support price of Rs4,500 per maund, equal to 40 kilograms, in line with the federal government's decision. The assurance comes ahead of the wheat procurement season, when growers sell their crop and need certainty about the price they will receive.

The wider package announced alongside Apna Kisan Bank Punjab includes Rs17 billion in subsidised agricultural loans and additional subsidy for Kisan Card holders for the wheat season. A special package for olive cultivation was also announced, aimed at diversifying production into high-value crops.

On machinery, 25,000 tractors have already been provided on subsidy, with a further 50,000 planned. Rs70 billion has been earmarked for high-tech mechanisation, and a machinery-on-rent programme is continuing so small farmers can access modern equipment at low cost.

The chief minister also appealed to farmers not to burn crop residue, to help fight smog. Crop burning in the harvest season adds to air pollution in Punjab, and the appeal links farm practice directly to the province's winter smog problem.

What is still not known

For all the detail in the announcement, several practical questions remain unanswered. No date has been given for when the bank will open, where its branches will be, or how a farmer will apply. No detailed eligibility rules have been published either.

That gap is normal for an announcement of this kind, but farmers should wait for the official notification before making borrowing plans.

For now, the message from Lahore is clear. Punjab's government wants farmers to see credit as a tool for growth rather than a burden, and the new bank is meant to carry that message into the next sowing season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apna Kisan Bank open for applications yet?

No. Apna Kisan Bank Punjab has only been announced so far. No launch date, branch network or application process has been published yet, so farmers cannot apply at this stage. Wait for the official Punjab government notification for the application process.

What are the loan tiers under the new bank?

Loans of up to Rs1 crore will carry zero markup, loans of up to Rs3 crore will carry 2 per cent, and loans of up to Rs5 crore will carry 5 per cent, under Apna Kisan Bank Punjab.

What is the new Kisan Card limit per acre?

The per-acre loan limit for buying DAP fertiliser has been raised by Rs3,500, from Rs30,000 to Rs33,500 per acre, in view of rising fertiliser prices.

What is the wheat support price?

The government will ensure implementation of the wheat support price of Rs4,500 per maund, or 40 kilograms, in line with the federal government's decision, ahead of the wheat procurement season.

Who will the new bank serve?

Apna Kisan Bank Punjab is aimed at small, medium and large farmers across Punjab. The chief minister also said steps were underway to include tenant farmers and those cultivating leased land in Kisan Card support.