Provincial Minister for Special Education Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq has said that government will purchase 45 lakh metric ton of wheat during current year costing Rs. 148 billion.

Talking reporters here Tuesday at a wheat purchase centre he disclosed that government has cancelled the licenses of wheat purchase brokers while flour mills were bound to purchase wheat as their fixed quota adding that the government has taken these drastic steps to facilitate growers across the Punjab.

Replying to a question the Minister said that special steps had been taken to cope with hoarding and smuggling of wheat and person involves in this practice would dealt with iron hands in the Punjab. To another question he said that fixed wheat purchase target would be achieved adding that one window operation had been introduced at wheat purchase centres aimed at lessening the problems of farmers.

On this occasion the Minister was informed that the fixed target of 1.11 lakh sacks of wheat would be achieved within next ten days and the process of wheat purchase would be continue after attaining the fixed target in the district. The Provincial Minister on this occasion directed that district administration to keep a vigilant eye on hoarder mafia in Sialkot, Daska, Pasrur and Sambrial tehsils of Sialkot district while special steps should also be taken to foil the attempts of wheat smuggling.