Staff Reporter Islamabad
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is desirous for welfare of growers and fixing minimum support price of wheat at Rs.1800 per 40 kg for current season in order to facilitate the farming community and the announcement of subsidy for low cost flour is a clear proof of his farmer-friendly policies.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said that development of the agriculture sector will not only result in prosperity of farmers but will help country’s progress.
Shibli Faraz said that the prime minister as per her promises for prosperity and development of farmers was taking all possible measures in this connection.
He was of the view that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) federal and provincial governments were committed to ensure the supply of flour to the common man at controlled rates.
The Information Minister said that flour will not be expensive despite the increase in the support price of wheat, subsidies were being given to benefit consumers.
The federal and provincial governments will ensure that half of their strategic reserves (five million tonnes) come from imported wheat, he added.
When the government procures wheat from abroad to meet half of its strategic needs, the pressure on domestic availability of wheat will be lessened, said Senator Shibli Faraz.
Shibli Faraz said that banking credit lines for wheat purchases would be available only to flour mills and those registered with the government.
The credit line application will mention the storage locations for the wheat, he said. Minister said that flour mills could get as much wheat as they want, but it would be necessary for them to grind the wheat and not store it for further sale.
The Minister Information and Broadcasting vowed that the government will take all steps to curb hoarding.
