LAHORE: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research informed on Wednesday that sufficient wheat stock was available to meet the country's future demand till the arrival of new crop.
The meeting of the Committee was held with Malik Shakir Bashir Awan MNA in the chair. Committee members Choudhry Iftikhar Nazir, Tariq Iqbal Choudhry, Choudhry Nazir Ahmed, Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Syed Iftikharul Hassan, Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla, Mohtarma Shehnaz Saleem and Dr Fauzia Hameed attended the meeting.
Pakistan Agriculture Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) Managing Director Sardar Muhammad Khan Khichi briefed the Committee about the steps taken for the procurement of wheat during the next procurement season.
He apprised the Committee that PASSCO procured wheat every year as per target fixed by the government by issuing bardana (jute bags) without security to small growers' upto 50 bags on personal guarantee of member of supervisory Committee.
He said bardana would be issued to the genuine growers and farmers by depositing Rs 150 per bag in shape of demand draft or pay order. "The amount of draft or pay order will be returned to the farmer immediately by the Center Incharge on receipt of wheat at the purchase centre," he added.
He said PASSCO had made concerted efforts to determine the general grower and eliminate the role of middleman.
He maintained that recommendations made by the last meeting had fully been implemented and farmers' protection had been ensured. The Corporation, he said, was making all out efforts to attain 900,000 metric ton wheat procurement target.
The PASSCO MD further informed the Committee that distribution of bardana (jute bags) would be started in Sindh on April 6, Balochistan April 12 and in Punjab on April 18. He assured the Committee that distribution of Bardana would be purely on merit.
Chairman of the Committee Shakir Bashir Awan advised that interest of small growers should be maintained at all costs. Â Besides, he said, ontime provision of bardana, Rs 1300 per maund support price should also be ensured. He said, in view of expected bumper crop this year, sufficient arrangements should be made for its procurement.
The Committee assured the PASSCO of its fullest support and cooperation to facilitate wheat farmers.
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