Punjab government has decided to encourage the private sector for construction of wheat godowns in the province. This was stated by Senior Advisor to Chief Minister, Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa here on Thursday. He said the provincial government has asked the Agriculture department authorities to provide technical support and assistance to the farmers as well as jute mills for cultivation of jute in the province.
"On the special interest of Punjab Chief Minister, government paid due return to the farmers of their wheat crop during last year while the drawbacks in the wheat procurement campaign will be removed," he added. While presiding over a meeting of committee constituted for procurement and storage of wheat, Khosa said that the Punjab government took various measures for encouraging the cultivators and single grain of wheat had been procured during last season besides providing tractors and thrashers to them.
He said that Punjab would procure four million metric tons wheat during next season. He said that Punjab government would establish new godowns for the storage of wheat on modern lines under public private partnership and the number of procurement centres for wheat would also be increased in order to facilitate the farmers.
Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed, Minister for Agriculture Ahmad Ali Olakh, Chief Secretary Punjab Nasir Mehmood Khosa, ACS, Chairman P&D, Secretary Food, high ranking officers of Agriculture & Food departments, Director Food and other officials were also present on the occasion.