MULTAN City News

Rs130b wheat to be procured in Punjab: minister

Says drive to start from 25th; growers’ lists prepared in transparent manner

From Our Correspondent

MULTAN: The Punjab government will start wheat procurement drive in the province from April 25, said Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin.

Addressing a press conference at the Circuit House here on Thursday, he said that the government would entertain growers of less than 12 acres in the wheat procurement drive and compensate them financially. He said that the government would procure 4 million metric ton wheat this year at a cost of Rs 130 billion. He said that more than 41,000 peasants in Multan division would be provided gunny bags. He said that the supply of gunny bags to the farmers would continue till May 15. He said that 50 per cent gunny bags would be distributed in the first 10 days. He said that the DCOs and the Food directors would monitor distribution of gunny bags. The government would procure wheat at the rate of Rs 1,300 per 40kg from the farmers, the minister added.

He said that 16 wheat procurement centres had been established in Multan district, five in Lodhran district, 16 in Vehari district and 14 in Khanewal district. Bilal Yasin said that the Punjab government had devised the wheat procurement policy with the consultation of peasants and flourmills. He said that the wheat growers’ lists were prepared in a transparent manner. Punjab Food Secretary Pervez Ahmad and Multan Food Director Asif Bilal Lodhi were also present on the occasion.