Empower Pakistan’s farmers with collateral-free loans: State Bank launches “Zarkhez-e” digital platform
The initiative, aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision, introduces an end-to-end digital lending system to support small and subsistence farmers under the National Subsistence Farmers Support Initiative (NSFSI).
A new digital platform has been launched to facilitate the farmers’ community of Pakistan. The State Bank of Pakistan has introduced “Zarkhez-e” aimed at making collateral-free agricultural loans more accessible to low-income and resource-poor farmers across the Pakistani farmer community.
A circular was issued by the Agricultural Credit and Microfinance Department in October 2025, outlining the framework for implementing the National Subsistence Farmers Support Initiative (NSFSI), now known as “Zarkhez-e” with the tagline “Asaan Digital Zarai Qarza.” The project aligns with the Prime Minister’s goal of revolutionising the agricultural industry.
On behalf of this Project, the Prime Minister’s vision is to transform the agriculture sector and enhance bank financing for farmers in unserved and underserved regions. Residents and farmers who survive on subsistence can use the portal to apply for collateral-free bank and microfinance bank credit. Instead of going to bank branches, farmers can apply for agricultural loans online.
This subsidy is developed in consultation with banks and microfinance banks (MFBs)(MFBs). Zarkhez-e offers an end-to-end digital solution that allows subsistence farmers and tenants to apply for agricultural loans through a centralised online portal. (MFBs) portal.
Eliminating the need to visit bank branches. The Land Information Management System (LIMS) verifies and evaluates applications agronomically before sending them to the applicant’s selected bank.
To guarantee the supply of high-quality inputs, such as seed, fertiliser, pesticides, and diesel, from reputable agri-merchants onboarded by banks and microfinance banks, at least 75% of funding is distributed in-kind.
Further, farmers will also receive agricultural services for improving crop productivity, and up to 25% of the loan amount may be provided in cash to cover additional farming needs. Farmers under the NSFSI will have 10% of the first loss coverage in accordance with the Risk Coverage Scheme for small farmers.
Participating banks and microfinance institutions will be entitled to an operational cost subsidy of Rs. 10,000 per borrower for every net increase in the number of outstanding borrowers.
In order to onboard agri-merchants, the majority of banks and microfinance banks have integrated with a centralised site and LIMS. In order to motivate institutions to finish the integration and onboarding procedures, a uniform process flow has been created. Banks are required to confirm receipt.
Read also:Pakistan’s debt soars to Rs. 78 Trillion, KP Advisor accuses of record borrowing
