Food Department Multan will procure 9,60,000 tonnes of wheat from six districts of the former Multan division this year, said deputy director Chaudhry Liaquat Ali here on Wednesday. He told APP that last year's target of 1.1 million tonnes could not be achieved due to scanty production and only 6,90,000 tonnes was purchased by the department.
This year the target appeared achievable due to the favourable weather conditions for the crop, he observed adding that procurement campaign would likely to start in early April.
District-wise wheat procurement target suggests 1.2 lakh tonnes from Multan, one lakh tonnes-Lodhran, 1.8 lakh tonnes-Khanewal, 1.8 lakh tonnes-Vehari, 2.4 lakh tonnes-Vehari and 1.4 lakh tonnes from Pakpatan. Deputy Director Food Department said that a total of 74 procurement centres had been set up across six districts including 16 in Multan, six at Lodhran, 15 in Khanewal, nine in Vehari, 20 in Sahiwal and eight in Pakpattan.