May 7, 2002	Tuesday	Safar 23, 1423

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DERA GHAZI KHAN, May 6: The Flour Mills Association has demanded judicial probe into the purchase of substandard wheat at the procurement centres.

Association president Habib Leghari and other office-bearers told Dawn on Monday that food department officials were purchasing wheat from brokers, instead of farmers, and showing wrong statistics.

“The officials at the procurement centres are providing substandard gunny bags to farmers. They are procuring substandard wheat from brokers who buy it from growers at the rate of Rs250 per 40 kgs”.

He said that 90 per cent wheat was being purchased from brokers and only 10 per from farmers at these centres. He alleged that food department’s officials were taking gratification from farmers for purchasing their produce at the support prices.

A number of farmers told this correspondent that food department’s official demanded up to Rs2,000 from them for the procurement of their wheat at support price.

They alleged that for every truck or trolley, the officials took 10 bags as bribe.