Sindh Food and Agriculture Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi said on Saturday that restrictions imposed by the 'Zila Nazim' on movement of wheat outside district Sanghar was uncalled for.
The minister observed that Zila Nazim of Sanghar had unilaterally imposed Section 144 on the movement of wheat outside the district on his own initiative. This action is also against the federal government's policy of free market trade in wheat and other commodities, he added.
He said he has always fought for the rights of the growers to receive fair open market price for the produce and the action of the Zila Nazim would hurt the interest of the growers of his district.
This will have negative effects on the poor farmers of Sanghar who will be forced to sell wheat to local traders at throwaway prices.
He said that the restriction on the movement of wheat will lead to corruption at the check-posts set up by the District Government to control wheat movement.
According to estimates carried out by the minister this year wheat crop is expected to be very good throughout Pakistan. The procurement season has practically started on April 1 and it is premature on behalf of Sanghar Zila Nazim to take such drastic measures which are against the interest of farmers, he added.
He said, "The Nazim's decision of imposing section 144 for only a period of seven days also defies logic particularly when the harvesting season has just begun and will continue for one to two months."
He said, "However, the provincial food department is actively procuring wheat alongside Passco throughout the province.
He said that it would have been prudent on the part of the Zila Nazim to consult the provincial or federal government before taking such an unnecessary 'drastic step'.