A special campaign "grow more wheat" will be launched this year to produce sufficient wheat crop, especially to fulfil the country's own demand for wheat. Additional secretary of Ministry of Food and Agriculture Mumtaz Ahmed said while speaking in a PTV programme on Monday.
He said: "In this regard, incentives will also be offered to the farming community." Above 20 million tons of wheat production will be tried to achieve, he added.
Replying to a question he said, mainly fluctuation in supply and demand affects the prices of flour. But, now the price of the commodity has stabilised, he added.
"At present, there is no shortage of wheat and sufficient stocks are available in the country," he said, adding, "the production of wheat remained this year 19.8 million tons, while the estimated demand is around 20m tons."
He said, "one million tons of imported wheat is in flow and ships are coming. One ship is being offloaded, while another will be reaching on 26th of this month."
Last year, everything was suitable for wheat crop, but, due to unsuitable temperature, the yield was badly damaged, he said.
Director Foods Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik, participating in the programme, said, the inter-provincial ban on the movement of wheat was imposed to avoid hijacking of market by the hoarders and profiteers. But, there was no ban on the movement of flour, he added.
He said: "Currently, around 4000 tons flour is daily being sent from Punjab to the other provinces to meet their requirements.
Jawad Rafique said, "the months of purchase of wheat are April, May and June while in other months the price of the commodity fluctuates due to the supply and demand factor." He said, "situation in the Punjab province is satisfactory." In the month of Ramazan, he said, Ramazan package will also be announced.
He expressed the hope that in coming months the prices of flour will come down as from October, the food department will start supply to the flourmills.
Replying to a question, he said with the start of this supply, rate of commodity is also notified all over Punjab. He informed that under a set formula, flour mills fix retail price of flour. Secretary general of All Pakistan Flourmills Association Sanaullah Khan Durrani also participated in the programme and spoke on the issue.