ISLAMABAD (January 31 2004): Agriculture Commissioners Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr Mohammad Hanif Hussain said on Friday that enough wheat stock was available in the country to meet domestic requirement.

Presently, about 1.62 million tones wheat is available in the government stock, while about 0.3 million tones of wheat is available in private sector reserve, he told PTV.

Mohammad Hanif said 0.15 million tones imported wheat will reach the country in the mid of February which will further increase the available stock of wheat.

To a question that Sindh is facing shortage of wheat, he denied they reports and said the province has been supplied enough wheat during couple of months.

He said prices of wheat in Sindh were coming down due to efforts made by the provincial and central governments.

He said that wheat harvesting season in Sindh is scheduled to start from March 1 which will help province to meet its requirements.

To another question, he said Punjab procured about 4 million tones of wheat, while Sindh and Balochistan acquired about 0.5 and 0.1 million tones of wheat respectively during last year.

He said Federal Committee is monitoring the prices and stocks of the wheat through out the country, while provincial committees are also examining position on the ground.

He said Punjab and Sindh have also introduced cheaper flour scheme.

He said government has encouraged private sector in procuring wheat.

Mohammad Hanif said during the last year, farmers of the country have received good price of the wheat due to farmer-friendly policy announced by the government.

When asked whether government has announced support price of wheat for the next harvesting season, he said it was announced in the month of October 2003.

To a question he said presently, country has cultivated wheat on 20 million acres which is sufficient area to produce enough wheat for the country's requirements.

Courtesy Business Recorder