January 2, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 28, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: The Federal government will soon order a highly professional study for preparation of a national oilseed policy for reducing reliance on imported edible oils.

This assurance was given by Minister for Commerce, Humayun Akhtar Khan, to a delegation of All Pakistan Solvent Extractors’ Association here on Wednesday. A decision would be taken in consultation with all the stakeholders, he added.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Association, Shahzad Ali Khan, had demanded that the government should come out with a five to three year national oilseed policy to encourage local production of oilseeds.

Edible oil, he said, was the largest import commodity after petroleum products and, as such, entailed a huge import bill. Local production of edible oils accounts for 30 per cent of consumption. He, therefore, stressed the need of a policy to encourage local growers of edible oils.