The government on Wednesday informed the National Assembly (NA) that there will be no change in the minimum guaranteed wheat support price to safeguard the interests of the common man. Responding to a call attention notice about non-fixation of wheat price, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Liaquat Ali Khan told the House that prices of wheat were on the high side in the international market last year due to which its price was fixed at Rs 950 per forty kilogram last year.
"However, this year, prices in the international market have fallen to Rs 850 per forty kilogram, but we are still maintaining the previous price to encourage the growers", he added. Responding to a question about wheat purchase, he said that wheat procurement in lower Sindh would start from March 20 while in upper Sindh and Punjab it will start from April 15 and farmers would get the minimum guaranteed price. He said that discussions are underway to arrange finances from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to procure wheat from the growers.
He further said that a meeting would be held in the first week of next month for final assessment of wheat crop following which a decision will be taken about disposal of the existing stock. He said about three million tons of wheat is still lying in the Passco godowns in Punjab. However, he said the government did not export the surplus wheat to avoid any shortage in future.
Later, State Minister for Finance and Revenue tabled a bill to further amend the SBP Act, 1956 (The State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2010. At a point of order, PML-N lawmaker Abdul Qadir Baloch invited the attention of the government towards the plight of the relatives of the missing persons in Balochistan.
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