Punjab Food Department to procure 50,000 wheat bags in Rwp division

RAWALPINDI: The Food Department Rawalpindi division will procure 50,000 wheat bags under ongoing wheat procurement campaign.

According to Deputy Director Foods Salman Ali, the Department had established 16 wheat procurement centers in Rawalpindi division to procure 50,000 wheat bags under wheat procurement campaign 2019.

Salman Ali informed that the Department on the directives of Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar had finalized all the arrangements to ensure transparent issuance of gunny bags to the growers.

The department received applications for issuance of Bardana to the farmers during April 8 to 17.

Salman Ali informed that four procurement centers had been established in Rawalpindi, seven in Attock, three in Jhelum and two in Chakwal district to achieve the wheat procurement target and facilitate the farmers to sell the wheat at the centers of the Punjab government.

He informed that Rs 1300 per 40 kg, the price to procure wheat had been fixed by the Punjab government which would be given to the growers through bank accounts of the farmers and no cash payment would be made to protect the rights of the growers.

It had been decided that Rs 90, the delivery charges on per hundred kg wheat bag would also be given to the farmers, he added.

Every center In-charge and Coordinator would be responsible to issue Bardana and the payments of the wheat be made only through cheques.

The complaint cells had also been established on Divisional and district levels to redress the complaints of the farmers. There is a toll free number, 0800-13535, 0800-60606 and 0800-13505 to facilitate the farmers.

The authorities concerned had directed the officers of food department that issuance of Bardana should be ensured purely on merit so that the rights and interests of the farmers and growers could be protected.