The Sindh Food Department has signed memorandum of understanding for procurement of 300000 metric ton wheat with Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) at a simple ceremony.
General Manager PASSCO Colonel Tanveer Ahmed Meo (retd) and additional director food Sindh Khalid Qaimkhani inked the agreement. Sindh minister for food Hari Ram Kishori Lal, Secretary Food Sindh Laeeq Ahmed, Director Food Khadim Hussain Bhutto, Chairman Pakistan flour Mill Association Khalid Masood and ex chairman Pakistan Flour mill Association Muhammad Yousif and others were also present on the occasion.
Talking to media Sindh minister for food Hari Ram Kishori Lal said that Sindh food department has already procured 100,000 metric ton wheat from PASSCO which was being supplied to flour mills. He added that sufficient wheat stock was available in Sindh for its requirement till the next crop season.
He said that wheat procured from PASSCO was being supplied on subsidized rates to flour mills with fifty percent cost share of federal and provincial government. He said that Sindh food department has fixed Rs 43 per Kg rate of atta with the consensus of Pakistan flour mill association. Provincial minister said that at present atta prices were at Rs 46 per kg but within a week prices of atta would reduce to Rs 43 per kg.
To a question, the minister said that Sindh government had decided not to procure wheat in last season as enough stock of 800000 metric ton was available in the godowns of food department. To another question he said that due to rumors the atta prices increased.
He added that when wheat was being supplied to flour mills on subsidized rates then benefit should be passed to consumers. He said that strict action would be taken against flour mills and retailers who were selling atta on exorbitant rates.
General Manager PASSCO Colonel Tanveer Ahmed (retd) PASSCO said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been supplied 450000 thousand metric ton, Sindh 100000 metric ton while 50000 metric ton to Balochistan on the demand. He said that today a MoU was signed with Sindh food department for additional 300000 metric ton wheat which will help in providing relief to general public.-PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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