KP govt starts purchasing wheat from tomorrow

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakh­tun­khwa Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru on Sunday said the provincial government would purchase 300,000 metric tonnes of wheat from the local growers.

“The KP government would procure a total of 600,000 metric tonnes of wheat worth Rs29 billion, out of which, 300,000 metric tonnes would be purchased directly from the local farmers from tomorrow,” said a communication quoting him as saying.

He said that government had established centres in Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Malakand at Dargai, Lower Dir, Hangu, Lakki Marwat, Mardan, Haripur, Mansehra, Karak, Kohat, Abbottabad, Battagram, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, Azakhel, Lower Chitral, Upper Chitral, Buner and Swat where purchase would start formally from tomorrow.

He stressed the need for transparency in purchasing and transportation of the commodity and installation CCTVs at the burying and procurement centres.Toru said the timely and better planning of the provincial government for wheat procurement would benefit the farmers. “Our farmers are hard working and their rights will be safeguarded,” he assured and added provision of all facilities to farmers would be ensured.

“The province produces 150,000 tonnes of wheat against its requirement of 500,000 tonnes,” he said.“The purchase of local wheat was being preferred to imported one or from Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation,” the minister said and added it would save the provincial government Rs12 billion. Toru said the purchased wheat would be stored in warehouses.