Punjab food department Multan region has so far procured 235,847 tons wheat which is 30 percent of the target, said Deputy Director Imran Sikandar on Wednesday. Talking to APP, he said the procurement is being made at 69 centres across six districts including Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Sahiwal, Pakpattan and Khanewal.
He said that 780,000 tons of the commodity is being procured at the new price of Rs 625 per 40-kg, while additional amount of Rs 50 per 40-kg is also being paid to the growers for freight. The procurement target is likely to be doubled, he added. The farmers have so far been issued 3.275 million gunny bags against a nominal surety price of Rs 53 per bag, refundable at the time of supply of wheat.
The district-wise procurement target and the wheat procured is as under: Multan 143,000 tons target (procured 35,709 tons), Lodhran 87,000 tons (procured 23,012 tons), Vehari 160,000 tons, (procured 49,863 tons), Sahiwal 160,000 tons (procured 49,132 tons), Pakpattan 70,000 tons (procured 25,298 tons) and Khanewal 160,000 tons (procured 52,833 tons).
Meanwhile, a food official of the district said that wheat flour is available at the rate of Rs 375 per 20-kg at retail shops, and that there is no shortage of the commodity at all. He said that the food department has stopped its subsidised supply to flour mills and the latter are now purchasing the commodity from the open market.