KARACHI (March 10 2004): Sindh Food and Agriculture Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi has said that wheat procurement target fixed by the provincial government would be achieved at all costs and officers found negligent in wheat procurement would be taken to task.

The minister was presiding over a meeting in his office on Tuesday to review wheat procurement programme for the 2004 season. Food secretary and regional head of the Food Department were also present on the occasion.

The minister directed the concerned officers that all suitable arrangements for smooth procurement of wheat like availability of Bardana should be made at all the government godowns.

These must be cleaned and fumigated before the arrival of new stock so that new wheat could be saved from any damage.

During the meeting the minister was informed that a few godowns have been encroached.

The minister directed his staff to remove all the encroachments from around the godowns and arrange for the repairs of godowns.

The minister said that all the repair work should be carried out immediately where it is required and all stocks in existing godowns must be brought to zero level for auditing purposes.

Jatoi said that for the procurement target of 600,000 tonnes wheat, set by the Sindh government, all the regional heads are responsible to fix the target center-wise and are bound to accomplish it.

The minister directed the regional heads to assist the growers in dealing with the banks to ensure timely payments to the growers.

He said that it was his priority to give maximum relief to the growers.

Courtesy Business Recorder