March 16, 2003	Sunday	Muharram 12, 1424

ISLAMABAD, March 15: The government is likely to allow export of around 0.35 million tons wheat till the arrival of fresh crop.

The decision would be taken by the Wheat Disposal Committee (WDS) meeting here on Monday, a senior official in the commerce ministry told Dawn on Saturday.

The meeting would be chaired by Federal Minister for Agriculture, Food and Livestock, (MINFAL), who is also chairman WDS, Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind and attended by relevant stakeholders.

The meeting would allow Passco to export 300,000 tons wheat and the total bids received for its exports.

The official said that the meeting is also expected to allow Sindh food department to export around 50,000 tons surplus wheat until the arrival of fresh crop.

The official said that the total strategic reserves till the arrival of next wheat crop was estimated at 1 million tons. The total wheat production was estimated at 21 million tons during 2002, while the local wheat consumption was 20 million tons, said the official.

Earlier, the government had allowed the Punjab Food Department to export the surplus wheat to the tune of 1 million tons, while the other provinces were stopped from doing so despite a request from the Sindh government.