Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Government will release wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan from the stocks of Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Service Corporation as well as it also allowed import of wheat to prevent surge in prices of wheat, flour and to ensure smooth demand and supply of the commodity in the country.
A press release issued said that after meeting with the prime minister the Ministry of National Food Security and Research had taken prompt steps to ensure supply of wheat in the country.A high-level meeting was convened by the Finance Division on June 18, with Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue in the chair.
Consensus was developed and was submitted in the meeting of the Eeconomic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet held on June 22 which decided import of wheat in the country by the private sector by abolishing duties and taxes.
Besides, release wheat from PASSCO’s stock to KP and Balochistan and release of 900,000 tons of wheat from Punjab Food Departments to their flour mills.
In compliance of the above decision of the ECC, PASSCO and KP government have signed MoU for releasing 100,000 tons of wheat from PASSCO to KP.
Department of Plant Protection (DPP) has so far, issued import permit to 6 importers for a quantity of 240,000 tons to be imported into the country.
Punjab’s Cabinet meeting is re-scheduled on June 25 in order to decide release of 900,000 tons of wheat to their flour mills within next two months at the release price to be fixed to combat the recent price hike in the local market. Provinces are also directed to ensure free movement of wheat across the border. It is expected that immediate steps taken by the government will not only ensure demand and supply of wheat within the country but also to address the recent pricing trend and to discourage hoarders and wheat smuggling.
