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Punjab govt plans one million tonne wheat export
LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to export one of its two million tonnes in surplus wheat and has formed a committee to explore markets and price possibility, says Provincial Food Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran. At a press conference here on Friday, the minister said the committee, headed by Senator Ishaq Dar, would come up with a report ‘within days’ so that the process could be accelerated and stocks cleared. Flanked by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Food Secretary Irfan Elahi, the minister claimed that the province needed 3.5 million tonnes and normally supplied 500,000 tonnes to other federating units. Its stocks had already touched 3.67 million tonnes, more than the provincial requirements, he claimed. He said the province would have over six million tonnes by the end of this procurement season, which would be two million tonnes more than its requirements. The Punjab government had decided to export one million tonnes wheat and keep another million as buffer stocks till any decision was taken about it, he said. He reiterated official stance that the government would remain part of the procurement drive till proverbial last grain and would clear food farrago at all costs. Dawn: Saturday, 09 May, 2009
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