Wheat export subsidy: Sindh expresses dismay over centre’s offer

Committee to approach federal govt to resolve matter

KARACHI: The Sindh government has expressed its dissatisfaction over the offer of the federal government to export its 400,000 tons of wheat stock at a subsidy of $45 per ton, saying it would not be sufficient to compensate for the losses borne by Sindh due to the import of 700,000 tons of wheat.

In an attempt to address the matter, it has been decided to present this issue of wheat disposal to the Sindh cabinet.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, while presiding over a meeting regarding early disposal of surplus wheat stock, directed three members of a ministerial committee to re-approach the federal government within three days and apprise the authorities of the losses to be incurred by the province.

Shah added that Sindh would bear losses of more than Rs5 billion despite accepting the rebate offered by the centre.  The chief minister said that he had apprised the premier of the wheat problem being faced by the province.

Shah directed the ministerial committee to re-approach the government to revise its offer and increase export quantity to 600,000 tons and the subsidy offer identical to the one given to Punjab.

Shah said that there was no other option than to export the surplus wheat even at discounted rates. “It is necessary to create the space for the procurement of wheat from the upcoming crop.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2015.

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