‘World may face food scarcity due to pandemic’

Energy minister says govt could enhance wheat procurement target for ongoing year

MULTAN: Punjab Minister for Energy Dr Akhtar Malik has said countries around the world could face food scarcity due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He expressed these views while chairing a meeting to review wheat procurement in Circuit House on Monday. The meeting was attended by Provincial Parliamentary Secretary for Information Nadeem Qureshi, MPA Saleem Labar, Deputy Commissioner Aamir Khattak, ADC Tayyab Khan, DFC Malik Mumtaz and other officials concerned.

“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government will enhance wheat procurement target for ongoing year,” the minister said.

The purchase is open and the government wished to purchase even last golden grain from the farmers, he added. The government is making a policy to prevent feed mills and flour mills from purchasing wheat over their due requirement, he maintained. “This year, the Sindh government will also purchase wheat.”



He said the provincial minister clarified that the PTI-led government would not tolerate any corruption in wheat purchase. The provincial parliamentary secretary stated that the artificial crisis of wheat had ended in the province. “The government would not allow hoarders to create artificial shortage of wheat.”

Deputy Commissioner Aamir Khattak remarked that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) would be followed at Wheat Procurement Centres during the campaign. “The arrangements for washing of hands, use of sanitisers and other precautionary measures had been finalised.

Similarly, they also evolved strategy to procure more wheat in case government enhances targets, he added. MPA Saleem Labar said MPAs concerned would also monitor the wheat purchase campaign.

ADC Tayyab Khan said 17 centres had been established for wheat purchase. “The government has set an initial target of 189,814 tonnes for Multan district.” DFC Malik Muhammad explained that that Rs9 would be given on unloading of one bag of 100kg of wheat while it would be Rs4.50 for 50kg bag of wheat.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2020.