Multan Food Department has so far purchased 678,521 tons of wheat against the target of 800,000 tons, achieving 84.84 percent of the revised procurement target.
Deputy Director Nasrullah Leghari on Wednesday told APP that the procurement process has slowed down as growers have already sold out their surplus grain. Multan region comprises six districts of the former Multan division where the Food Department has set up 63 procurement centres.
He said a total of over seven million empty bags had been issued to the farmers against a payment of Rs 53 for each gunny bag and Rs 15 for polythene bag, to be refunded on supply of the commodity at the issuing centre. Farmers are also paid transportation charges, the amount increased from Rs 3 to Rs 5 per bag of 100 kg.
The district-wise procurement and revised target is as under: Multan 126,143 tons (target 159,000 tons), Lodhran 88,105 tons (96,000 tons), Vehari 126,657 tons (159,000 tons), Sahiwal 135,729 (148,000 tons), Pakpattan 57,542 tons (69,000 tons) and Khanewal 144,277 tons (target 169,000 tons).
Nasrullah Leghari said the procurement drive would continue till the revised target is achieved, adding that no complaint of any irregularity has been received from any of the 63 procurement centres across the region.
In the peak season daily procurement rose to 30,000 tons but now it has slowed down to as low as 700 tons only, the reason could be that supplies have been exhausted, or the higher rates of Rs 430-435 per 40 kg offered on the open market.