Wheat support price raise commendable: Gilani

Economic Coordination Committee raise the wheat support price from Rs1,050 to Rs1,200 per 40 kg.

LAHORE:

Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday praised the decision of the Economic Coordination Committee to raise the wheat support price from Rs1,050 to Rs1,200 per 40 kg and restore the electricity subsidy on tube well use to the farmers in Balochistan.

In a statement issued on Friday, Gilani said he had discussed the issue with President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit to Multan and appreciated the prompt response. “The decision will ensure continued food security in the country and accrue substantial financial benefits to farmers,” he said.

He said his decision to double the support price of wheat had helped change Pakistan from being a country that imported wheat to one that exported it.

He said his cabinet had decided to double the price of wheat on the grounds that any subsidy should go to Pakistani farmers instead of farmers from foreign countries. He said the decision pumped billions of rupees into the rural economy.



He said Pakistan now had a surplus of wheat stocks despite exports.

He said the decision to restore electricity subsidy to farmers in Balochistan will substantially increase the agriculture produce of the province.

He said agriculture in the province heavily depended on ground water.

He also congratulated President Zardrari on a successful D-8 summit conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2012.