WHEAT PROCUREMENT IN PUNJAB:76% TARGET ACHIEVED: A. ALEEM KHAN

98% BARDANA DISTRIBUTED, 26 LACS MMT WHEAT PROCURED 

 LARGE-SCALE CRACKDOWN OF FD AGAINST HOARDERS 

Senior & Food Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan has said that the wheat procurement drive is in full swing across the province and so far 76 per cent target of wheat procurement has been achieved in Punjab. He added that Food Department has procured more than 2.6 million metric tons of wheat while distribution of more than 98% "bardana" to the farmers in the province has also been completed. Abdul Aleem Khan said that Food Department and district administration is providing all possible facilities to the farmers in the purchase of wheat through joint efforts. He said that as per the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the price of wheat is being paid to the farmers in Punjab at the rate of Rs. 1800 per mond this year. Similarly efforts are being made to minimize the role of middleman between the farmer and the consumer, he added. Senior & Punjab Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan further said that report is being obtained on daily basis regarding procurement of wheat from the Food Department and it is being ensured that the Punjab Government to procure wheat on time and achieve the target of 3.5 million metric tons accordingly. 

Senior & Punjab Minister for Food Abdul Aleem Khan further said that operations are underway in all cities across Punjab to curb the stockpiling of wheat. He told that so far raids have been undertaken in different districts and 27600 bags of wheat in Gujranwala Division, 12000 from Bahawalpur and 11500  bags of wheat have been confiscated from Mandi Baha Uddin. He said that legal action is being taken against stockiest by seizing sacks of wheat from Sialkot, Wazirabad, Nowshera Warkan, Kamonki, Mandi Yazman and other cities of Punjab. Abdul Aleem Khan said that farmers should feel free to sell their wheat at the procurement centers of Punjab as they will get timely compensation for their crop. He assured that the Government will not allow anyone to store wheat and in this regard the Food Department and district administration are on high alert round the clock  to take strict action without any discrimination.