Food Department Multan region has so far purchased 659,425 tons wheat, achieving 87.34 percent of the procurement target. Punjab government had already increased the procurement target by 20 percent from 615,000 tons to 755,000 tons for this region, which comprises six districts of the former Multan division, said Deputy Director Nasrullah Leghari on Wednesday.
He told APP that a total of 755,000 tons wheat would be purchased at 63 centres in Multan region, while 7 million empty bags have been issued to farmers against a payment of Rs 53 for each gunny bag and Rs 15 for a polythene bag.
The security money for the bags is refunded on supply of the commodity at the issuing centre, where wheat is being purchased at the support price of Rs 425 per 40kg, he added. "Farmers are also being paid transportation charges, and this amount has been increased from Rs 3 to Rs 5 per 100kg bag," he said.
The district-wise procurement and revised target is as under: Multan 123,381 tons (target 150,000 tons), Lodhran 87,372 tons (90,000 tons), Vehari 124,668 tons (150,000 tons), Sahiwal 128,403 (140,000 tons), Pakpattan 55,900 tons (65,000 tons) and Khanewal 139,702 tons (target 160,000 tons). He said growers need to take the grain to the nearest procurement centre and the payment is made through cheques.
"The procurement drive will continue till the target is achieved. If more wheat is available with farmers, the government may further revise the procurement target," he added. To a query, he said no complaint of irregularity had been received from any of the 63 procurement centres in the region.
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