Punjab govt would ensure purchase of paddy at the official price of Rs 1,250 per 40 kg through Pakistan Agricultural Supply and Storage Corporation (Passco) and all the Commissioners and DCOs have been directed to strictly monitor the procurement process to ensure transparency, said Secretary Agricultural Marketing Punjab, Tahir Khurshid, while briefing a meeting held here on Monday to review "Paddy Procurement Plan 2009".
He told the meeting that all necessary arrangements had been finalised and Passco purchase centres were being opened across the province. As per the plan, Passco would purchase two lac metric tons paddy including Super Basmati and Irri 6 from small growers of Punjab. Moreover, he said, purchase centres would be selected in consultation with the concerned DCO, who would be over all incharge of all Passco centres established in his district.
He further told that 1.75 lac metric ton Super Basmati at Rs 1250 per 40 kg and 0.25 metric tons Irri paddy at Rs 600 would be purchased through PASSCO in the province. During the process the role of middlemen would be discouraged, he added. Complete record of sellers would also be maintained independently by Passco as well as district administration at all purchase centres.
Officials of Passco, Revenue, Agriculture and Agricultural Marketing would be deputed at these purchase centres and a summary of purchased paddy would be sent to the concerned DCO Office on daily basis, he added. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Tahir Hussain, GM (Paddy) Passco Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, DCOs of Jhang, Chiniot, T. T. Singh and other concerned officers.