LAHORE – The Punjab Food Department has sold over 0.8 million tonnes of wheat for export while agreements have been signed for the sale of more wheat to exporters. Out of 6.6 million tonnes wheat in stocks from procurement of 2010-11, the Punjab Food Department has so far sold over four million tonnes of wheat helping the department to pay back the loans against it and creating room for the storage of wheat to be procured in current season.
Provincial Food Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor said this while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.He said the Food Department had around 2.2 million tonnes of wheat worth Rs 60 billion in its stock at present. Punjab Secretary Food Muhammad Irfan Elahi said the procurement target for the province had been set at 3.5 million tonnes but the department had made arrangements for the procurement of four million tonnes.
He added that payment to growers would be ensured at Rs 950 per 40 kilograms. Provincial Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor said the transparency would be ensured in wheat procurement and no quota had been fixed for any member of the national assembly or provincial assembly.
