Government forms 'working group' to make Punjab self-sufficient in food sector

The Punjab government has formed a 'working group' to formulate recommendations for short and long term policy to make the province self-sufficient in food sector.

The group will bring departments of food, agriculture, irrigation and livestock on one page and secretaries of these departments will evolve a joint strategy to achieve this target. Decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting of all the four departments here on Tuesday with Senior Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan in the chair.

Minister for Agriculture Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial, Minister Irrigation Sardar Mohsin Leghari, Minister for Consolidation Syed Samsam Ali Bukhari and Minister for Livestock Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dareshak were also present on this occasion.

Taking notice of complaints of seed companies in buying the wheat seed, Aleem Khan directed that the food department should assist seed companies in buying the wheat for seed in addition to meeting its own target of wheat procurement. Similarly, leniency will be exercised for flour mills so that maximum quantity of wheat can be sold at good price and on time by the farmers.

Khan said that despite the seasonal changes, the wheat crop in Punjab has improved and we will not only meet our procurement target but also meet the demand for wheat of KPK. He told the meeting that a strong campaign has been launched against the hoarders, no concessions will be given to them and the siege against them will be further tightened. He said that like ghost flour mills, it was also important to investigate seed companies so as to discourage such companies who are working for wheat quota only.

All other ministers appreciated the proposal to improve the working relationship between the four departments. The meeting was also attended by the secretaries concerned, Director Food and MD Punjab Seed Corporation who gave a briefing on their respective departments.