Staff Reporter
Karachi
Sindh Minister for food Hari Raam Kishori Lal has said that PASSCO has started supply of one lac ton wheat to Sindh food department through their Khairpur and Noshehro Feroz facilities adding that Sindh food department has decided to issue prepaid Challan to facilitate flour mills and after purchasing prepaid challans, the flour mills could lift wheat quota directly from Passco.
Talking to journalists at his office on Monday, he said that sufficient stock of wheat available with the Sindh food department, while one lac ton of wheat has been procured from Passco and supply of same was started on Monday, while an additional 3 lac ton wheat has been approved by federal government on the request of Sindh government.
He said that Sindh food department has started supply of wheat to flour mills in October on subsidized price adding that 41 thousand metric ton was released to flour mills / atta chakkis on 25th October, whereas record 1 lac 50 thousand metric ton being released to flour mills in current month (November). He said that 2919 metric ton has been allocated for six districts of Karachi division.
The minister said that there was no reason for increase of atta prices in the province, when wheat has been released on subsidized rates to flour mills. He said that Sindh government has issued strict directives to Price Control Department and divisional Commissioners to ensure the fixed prices of flour in the markets.
Replying to a question, provincial minister for food Hari Ram Kishori Lal added that action has been taken against the corrupt practices in the food department and as many as 79 officials of food department has been suspended, while another 179 has been issued show cause notices.
