Transparency: Haider reviews wheat purchase drive

BAHAWALPUR: Adviser to Chief Minister on Literacy and Non-Formal Education Rai Haider Ali on Thursday directed the Food Department to purchase wheat from farmers in a transparent manner.

He was addressing a meeting at the Bahawalpur district coordination officer’s office.

The meeting reviewed the ongoing wheat procurement drive. He said complaint centres had been set up at wheat procurement points.

Food Assistant Director Shah Behram said 200,662 tonnes of wheat had been procured so far in the Bahawalpur division out of a target of 746,000 metric tonnes.  He said more than five million gunny bags had been distributed among farmers.

He said in Bahawalpur district, 89,083 metric tonnes of wheat had been purchased. Ali also visited several wheat procurement centres in Bahawalpur. He checked stock registers and met farmers. He ordered Food Department officials to help farmers and purchase wheat early.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2014.