Procurement season 2009: Passco to buy 50,000 metric tons wheat from Balochistan

On behalf of Balochistan Food Department, Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) will buy 50,000 metric tons of wheat in Balochistan during the procurement season of 2009. Sources in Passco told Business Recorder on Saturday that a meeting between the Passco officials, the Chief Secretary, Balochistan and Secretary Food, Balochistan would be held on Monday to finalise necessary details in this regard.
It may be mentioned that under the procurement target 2009 assigned by the Federal government, Passco had a target of procuring 10,000 tons of wheat from Balochistan. Nevertheless, Balochistan government requested the Corporation to procure wheat on its behalf too, from the province, as the Corporation had expertise and better infrastructure for the procurement process. The corporation had procured wheat on behalf of Balochistan government in the past as well, but for the last two years, the government decided to the procurement at its own, the sources added.
The sources disclosed that procurement preparations had been finalised by the Corporation in Balochistan province also like rest of the country. It had set up 14 procurement centres in the three districts of Balochistan including Dera Murad Jamali, Jafferabad and District Jhal Magsi.
The sources further said that terms and conditions of buying wheat would be finalised in Mondays meeting including the provision of money to the Corporation for wheat procurement. Further, a memorandum of understanding would also be finalised to be inked by both sides later on, the sources maintained. Regarding starting of procurement in Balochistan, the sources said that the Corporation was ready and procurement in that province would also be launched by second week of April 2009.