New wheat procurement policy: Body formed to prepare recommendations

LAHORE: In order to provide maximum relief to the farmer and the poor, the new wheat procurement policy should be prepared, besides relieving the government of financial pressure and reducing the millers' dependence on the government. Provincial Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan expressed these views while presiding over a meeting on the new wheat procurement policy, at the Chief Secretary's Camp Office. The Chief Secretary constituted a committee to prepare the recommendations on ending financial pressures on the government in the procurement process, reducing millers' reliance on the government, best economic return to farmers, direct subsidy to the poor people, control on prices, strategic reserves of wheat, its inter-provincial transport and exports. The committee comprising secretaries of the departments of Agriculture, Food, Planning and Development and Finance would formulate its recommendations within three days which will be submitted to the Prime Minister for final approval. The committee will also make suggestions on how to implement the new procurement policy. Speaking at the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan said that the new policy would benefit not only the farmers but also the poor. He said that targeted subsidy would be given on wheat to provide relief to low-income people. Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Noman Langrial presented their proposals on the occasion. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Chief Secretary Punjab Jawwad Rafique Malik whereas Agriculture Minister Noman Ahmed Langrial participated through video link. The Senior Member Board of Revenue, secretaries of different departments including Food, Agriculture, and Finance were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Youth Affairs Usman Dar has said that in Punjab, more than six lac volunteers of Tiger Force are performing duties at quarantine centers, field hospitals, mosques and other places to implement SOPs regarding Coronavirus, besides assisting the administrations in price control and their performance is yielding positive results. These views were expressed by him while addressing a meeting at Chief Secretary's Camp Office. The meeting was attended by the Commissioner Lahore Division and officers concerned while divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated through video link. Speaking at the meeting, Usman Dar said that the scope of services of volunteers is being widened as the establishment of Tiger Force helped strengthen the link between the people and administration. The Chief Secretary Punjab directed the officers that the Tiger Force is a useful human resource and their services should be utilized in the best possible manner. The administrative officers briefed the meeting about the performance and usefulness of the Tiger Force in their respective areas. The meeting decided that the volunteers would be assigned duties during the tree plantation, and campaigns against dengue and polio. Besides this, the services of the Tiger Force will also be used to assist the administration in flood arrangements, surveillance of locusts, traffic management and other matters. The meeting proposed that certificates of appreciation should be awarded to the best-performing volunteers and for this purpose; a formal ceremony should be organized at the Convention Center Islamabad where the Prime Minister may distribute the certificates among the volunteers.