LHC seeks reply on plea for fixing wheat price

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought a reply from the federal government on a petition seeking fixing a new price of wheat.

A two-member bench of the LHC presided over by Justice Baqar Ali Najafi took up the petition filed by advocate Bilal Ahmad for hearing Tuesday. The petitioner said the government had imported 3.5m tonne wheat despite the availability of 4m metric tonne wheat in the country. The step of importing wheat by the federal government caused loss to the tune of 1 billion dollars to the national kitty, he contended.

The Punjab government has maintained the same price which was fixed last year. Inflation has surged by 20pc but the rate for farmers has not been increased, he maintained and requested the court to order the government to fix a new price of wheat. The LHC, seeking a reply from the federal government till May 14, adjourned the case.