The government would ensure procurement of wheat at the announced support price while it would encourage and facilitate the private sector to purchase, store and trade the commodity. Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal said this while chairing a committee meeting constituted by Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) to review the current wheat purchase policy here on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Minfa, Junaid Iqbal, representatives from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Provincial Food Departments, PASSCO, Planning Commission of Pakistan and Flourmills Association of Pakistan.
Gondal said that the government is committed to protect the interests of the farming community and would make it sure that they get the decided support price of Rs 950 per 40 kg.
"State Bank of Pakistan will facilitate buyers of both the public and private sector to enable them to purchase wheat. At present we have enough stocks of wheat for fulfilling the local demand till the harvest of the upcoming crop," the minister added.
He said that no restrictions on the movement of the commodity would be imposed and directed the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan to ensure the smooth movement of commodity and discourage the inter-provincial restrictions. Gondal said that among the top priorities of the government was to build new storage facilities for grains as well as fruits and vegetables. Proposals to allow export of wheat during the harvest season would also be discussed with stakeholders at the ECC forum. "An effective Financial Model to enable the private sector for purchase of wheat was under deliberations," the minister added.
The minister further said that due to imposition of ban on the export of onion via land route its supply improved and the price of onion has drastically reduced to Rs 37 from Rs 80 per kg in the local markets. He added that provinces have already been directed to monitor and ensure the availability of IRRI-6 (Rice) seed for the next sowing season by adopting proactive measures so that shortage could be avoided.