Genuine seed companies to be encouraged, says Aleem Khan

LAHORE: Punjab Senior and Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has said that stern action will be taken against the ghost seed companies working only for wheat quota while genuine seed companies working in true sense will be encouraged and Food Department will also extend full cooperation to them.

The minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation led by Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed, chairman, Seed Association of Pakistan. Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries President Mian Anjum Nisar and Seed Association former Chairman Rana Salman Mehmood were also present.

Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said that hoarding and smuggling of wheat is a very serious issue as wheat grown in Punjab is smuggled illegally to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and from there to Afghanistan.

He said, “We have to meet our needs first and then wheat will be also available for brother provinces.” Abdul Aleem Khan said that after taking charge of the Ministry of Food, he did not impose any restriction on the transportation of inter-district wheat in Punjab but without a formal permit wheat could not be sent out of Punjab.

Abdul Aleem Khan said that legitimate problems of seed companies will be resolved on a priority basis as he realises that sufficient quantity of seed is required for the next crop. He asked the chairman of the Seed Association to prepare a list of actually working companies so that they could start supplying wheat to them in accordance with the rules and regulations of Food Department. Chaudhary Bilal Ahmed said that so far wheat for seeds supplied to the seed companies is in very small quantity.

He suggested that the Food Department release wheat for seed so that there was no shortage of wheat and flour next year. He appreciated the steps taken to curb smuggling and hoarding and offered his all possible cooperation to Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on behalf of his association. Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries President of Mian Anjum Nisar and other participants in the meeting congratulated Abdul Aleem Khan on assuming the post of senior minister of Punjab and appreciated the steps taken by him for the betterment of Food Department.