ISLSMABAD (March 23 2004): The wheat committee on Monday approved a pro-active grain procurement plan for 2003-04, wherein Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) and provincial food departments have been directed to double their procurement points as compared to last year.

The committee also asked public sector departments to move in without any delay to compete with the private sector in wheat procurement.

Passco chief Major General Fahim Akhtar Khan told this correspondent after attending the meeting that Passco and provincial authorities have been given free hand to compete with the private sector in procurement of wheat.

He added that public sector would be able to meet the target for two reasons. One, early procurement and second, hundred percent increase in number of procurement centres across the country.

The Passco chief told the meeting that the corporation has already entered into Sindh where harvesting is getting momentum and for Punjab, Passco will make all arrangements by the end of current month.

Khan dispelled the impression that public sector may not meet its procurement target since private sector was paying over and above the government price. He was confident that once procurement gets momentum, prices would be well in reach for public sector which, according to him, has an edge over the private sector due to better availability of funds and quick payments.

It may be noted that wheat arrival has started in Sindh where commodity prices are still ranging between Rs 430 and Rs 450 for 40 kg and the sole buyer at the moment in the province is private sector.

Wheat committee, which met here with Food Minister Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind in the chair, was told by the provinces' representatives that their respective food departments have made all-out arrangements to procure last grain from farmers at a fixed price, ie, Rs 350 for 40 kg.

Rind directed the participants that they could go over and above the target to ensure that each and every grain is procured from farmers at fixed price.

The meeting also decided in principle that wheat committee will meet on weekly basis to review pace of procurement and other factors playing in thereto.

The government has fixed 5.5 million tonnes wheat procurement target.

Punjab has been given procurement target of 3 million tonnes. Next comes Passco, which will buy 1.4 million tonnes of wheat this year.

Target for Sindh and Balochistan have been fixed at 5 million tonnes and 0.1 million tonnes respectively.

Courtesy Business Recorder