Government procures 4.3m tonnes of wheat
Minister lauds efforts of food department, district administration <br />
and LEAs
PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said that the Punjab Food Department has crossed the 4 million metric tonnes threshold of wheat procurement, which is the highest in the last 10 years.
He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of the food department on Friday. Khan thanked the food department officials, district administration and law enforcement agencies for facilitating the record purchase.
“They worked day and night to meet the wheat procurement targets, stockpiled and curbed smuggling,” he highlighted.
He promised that the food department would continue its efforts diligently and fulfill the assigned responsibilities with honesty.
It is estimated that the government currently holds a wheat stock of nearly 4.3 million metric tonnes, as per official sources. The Punjab government had set a target of 4.5 metric tonnes of wheat for the ongoing year.
As per the official records of the Punjab Food Department Bahawalpur, Lahore and Rawalpindi districts have generated surplus wheat against the assigned benchmark.
In meeting with the food department officials, he said that government would stop buying wheat and extend help to private flour mills to purchase the leftover wheat stock. Additionally, private seed companies will be supported buy wheat too.
He directed the authorities concerned to send a summary to the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) suggesting termination of wheat procurement operation at a government level as sufficient stock has been purchased from the farmers.
Aleem Khan also said the Punjab Seed Corporation has achieved 90% of the wheat procurement target.
“Nonetheless, the borders of Punjab would remain sealed,” he added.
The senior minister directed the food secretary to hold a meeting with flour mills association.
“The district administration would determine new flour price after holding consultations with the food department and flour mills,” he asserted.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2020.
Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said that the Punjab Food Department has crossed the 4 million metric tonnes threshold of wheat procurement, which is the highest in the last 10 years.
He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of the food department on Friday. Khan thanked the food department officials, district administration and law enforcement agencies for facilitating the record purchase.
“They worked day and night to meet the wheat procurement targets, stockpiled and curbed smuggling,” he highlighted.
He promised that the food department would continue its efforts diligently and fulfill the assigned responsibilities with honesty.
It is estimated that the government currently holds a wheat stock of nearly 4.3 million metric tonnes, as per official sources. The Punjab government had set a target of 4.5 metric tonnes of wheat for the ongoing year.
As per the official records of the Punjab Food Department Bahawalpur, Lahore and Rawalpindi districts have generated surplus wheat against the assigned benchmark.
In meeting with the food department officials, he said that government would stop buying wheat and extend help to private flour mills to purchase the leftover wheat stock. Additionally, private seed companies will be supported buy wheat too.
He directed the authorities concerned to send a summary to the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) suggesting termination of wheat procurement operation at a government level as sufficient stock has been purchased from the farmers.
Aleem Khan also said the Punjab Seed Corporation has achieved 90% of the wheat procurement target.
“Nonetheless, the borders of Punjab would remain sealed,” he added.
The senior minister directed the food secretary to hold a meeting with flour mills association.
“The district administration would determine new flour price after holding consultations with the food department and flour mills,” he asserted.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2020.