ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Food Security, Tariq Bashir Cheema categorically rejected the impression that there is any dearth of wheat in the country and termed propaganda against its shortage as baseless.
Speaking at a presser here on Friday, Tariq Bashir Cheema said that despite financial constraints, the federal government imported wheat costing two billion rupees so that the domestic requirements could be met.
He said the government had decided to import 2.6 million tons of wheat, out of which total 1.3mn tons of wheat had already reached Pakistan, and 400,000 tons of wheat was lying at Port.
“In our strategic reserves the country has 1.5mn tons of wheat available for next week, and by March the country will receive more 800,000 tons of wheat”, he added.
Punjab is releasing 21,000 tons of wheat on daily basis while two days back, 26,000 tons of wheat was released.
He said provinces have had sufficient wheat stocks, but they were not releasing it due to which the prices had increased, urging all the provinces to take action against wheat hoarders to ensure its availability in the market.
The federal food security minister asserted that provision of wheat to the mills was responsibility of the provinces, and underlined the need to avoid political point scoring on the issue of wheat saying that all the stakeholders should work together to ensure its smooth supply.
He expressed hope that despite devastating floods in Sindh, the province would witness bumper crop this year.
