MIRPURKHAS: Sindh Minister for Food Nisar Ahmed Khoro has said that the wheat procurement target of 1.2 million metric tons for the current year has been set and for the purpose 470 wheat procurement centers have been established.
This he stated while talking to media after inaugurating the wheat procurement center at Mirpurkhas on Friday. Senior minister said that Sindh government had already made the wheat procurement centers functional in interior Sindh from March 15.
He added that the wheat prices are lower in other countries as compared to Pakistan, that’s why wheat cannot be exported. In response to a query, Nisar Khoro said that 442 wheat procurement centers were established in previous year whereas for the current year there are 470 procurement centers across the reigion,
The minister said that Sindh produces 50 million metric tons of wheat and the government cannot procure the entire production that is why every year it fixes the target of procurement. He said that this
year the wheat would be procured fr om the small farmers who own 16 acre or lesser lands. Khoro informed that Sindh government’s borrowings from State Bank of Pakistan had swelled to Rs. 93 billion, in respect of wheat procurement.
He said to ensure transparency in process of wheat procurement, the committees comprising farmers have been formed on district and divisional levels.
He further said that 385000 wheat bags from Mirpurkhas and 270000 wheat bags would be purchased from Umerkot. On the occasion, Deputy Director Food, Ali Bukhsh Mehar informed that 21 wheat procurement centers in Mirpurkhas and 38 in Umerkot have been established.
MNA Mir Munawar Talpur, MPA Khair-un-Nisa Mughal, Haji Noor Ahmed Bhurgri, former MNA Pir Aftab Shah, former MPA Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Chairman District Council Mir Anwar Talpur, DC Mirpurkhas Zahid Hussain Memon, Director Food Muhammad Bachal, DFC Mirpurkhas Mir Ali Muhammad Talpur and other concerned officials were present.
