Punjab Food Department has decided to buy 25400 tarpaulins at a cost of over Rs 284.4 million to save the wheat from weather impact, which would be procured during April 2010 and stored in open places. According to details the provincial food department had floated tenders to buy tarpaulins to save the wheat which would be stored under open sky on plinths.
Many big firms of the country submitted their offers and officials of the food department also held negotiations with representatives of these firms after opening the bids to ensure further reduction in these prices. Five firms further reduced their rates and agreed to provide tarpaulin at the rate of Rs 11200 per tarpaulin.
The department issued orders on Tuesday to these firms for provision of tarpaulin with a directive to provide the required quantity within sixty days. Secretary Food Punjab Muhammad Irfan Elahi while talking to Business Recorder said that as far as the gunny bags are concerned, the department has bought 50,000 bales, which are enough to store 1.5 million tons of wheat. While gunny bags sufficient to store 1.6 million tons are already with the department.
The department has also ordered polypropylene bags for storing another 1.2 million tons. He said that it means that by start of procurement drive, the department would have bags for storing 4.2 million tons of wheat. 'This is sufficient for the initial procurement target of 4 million tons. Preparations by the department for wheat procurement are in full swing and in final stages,' he added.