Our Correspondent
Sialkot
The district administration seized 48,000 mound hoarded wheat from various parts of the district. The wheat was stocked at private godowns by local dealers. According to official sources, the value of seized wheat was stated to be Rs 68 million. Police have also sealed 50 private godowns in Sialkot district besides arresting their owners for illegally hoarding and storing wheat. Police have sent accused behind the bars after registering cases against them.
Meanwhile, Provincial Minister for Special Education Ch Muhammad Akhlaq said on Tuesday the government would purchase 4.5 million ton wheat during the current procurement season.
Talking to the media at a local wheat purchase centre, he disclosed the government had cancelled licenses of wheat purchase brokers while flourmills were bound to purchase wheat as per their fixed quota, adding that the government had taken these drastic steps to facilitate growers across the Punjab. Replying to a question, the Minister said that special steps had been taken to cope with hoarding and smuggling of wheat and persons involve in this practice would be dealt with iron hands.