On receiving different complaints, Senior Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan has directed to increase the number of wheat procurement centers across the province.
He has asked each district administration to review the number of wheat procurement centers and increase its number in consultation with the local members of national and provincial assembly. Senior Minister said that arrangement should be ensured at wheat procurement center to the extent to which people do not have a rash and people can move there easily.
Abdul Aleem Khan further directed that farmers’ seating, drinking water, sanitizer and other security arrangements should also be completed as these centers.
He said that close eye should be kept on cutting on sale of wheat so that no farmer should be discouraged. Senior Minister categorically said that timely procurement and safety of wheat is the prime responsibility of the Food Department and no negligence can be tolerated in this regard.
Food Secretary Waqas Ali Mahmood told Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan that there are 382 wheat procurement centres operating in Punjab at this time while PAASCO is collecting wheat in 12 Tehsils of the Punjab province.
Meanwhile, Senior Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan welcomed the issuance of ordinance against hoarding and smuggling and said that storage in the food sector is a serious problem in Punjab which has to be discouraged at all costs. Every farmer has the right to make profit from wheat and flour, but stocking and illegal profiteering from these products cannot be justified in any way.
Abdul Aleem Khan made it clear that under his direction the borders of Punjab were being sealed. He said that wheat would not go out of the province illegally at any cost. Senior Minister said that all institutions would be mobilized to prevent stockpiling across the province and the Food Department would meet the expectations of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in this regard.
