June 10, 2004

Punjab Meets 70 Percent Wheat Target

The Punjab government has completed 70 percent of the wheat procurement target with the purchase of 2.3 million tons of wheat in the province so far.

According to Punjab Minister for Food Chaudhry Mohammed Iqbal, Punjab would give wheat to other provinces after meeting its own need, for which a policy is being devised.

The purchase of wheat has been expedited to achieve the remaining 30 percent of the set target, he said.

"The Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is most committed that the province must achieve the set target of wheat," he said. Chaudhry Iqbal said the government has already directed all the district governments check the illegal movement of wheat.

As many as nine check posts have been established in various parts of the province to curb the movement of wheat where police and revenue officials have been deputed, he explained.