July 7, 2003	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 6,1424

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ISLAMABAD, July 6: The federal minister for food, agriculture and livestock, Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, said there was no shortage of wheat in the country and enough stocks were available to meet the requirements of all provinces.

Speaking at a press conference at his residence in the Ministers’ Enclave, Mr Rind said the recent stories in the media regarding shortfall in wheat production in the country were false and motivated to serve the purpose of certain elements.

He said the government would not allow any increase in the price of wheat and any move to create a shortage of the essential commodity would be foiled.

“All provinces will continue to get the required quantity of wheat at the prescribed rates,” the minister said.

He conceded that the government had failed to achieve the target of 19.75 million tons of wheat production set for this year. But, he added that one million tons stock of wheat was still lying from the last year which would help meet the shortfall this year.

He also said this year the growers were paid the price of Rs300 per 40kg for the first time and the wheat was picked from their homes on cash payment.

He said according to the statistics, the banks provided Rs6 billion for purchase of wheat to the private sector which was allowed to purchase wheat for the first time under the new policy devised by the government.

“This is the reason the private sector purchased a big quantity of wheat,” Mr Rind said.

To a question, the minister said the ban on inter-provincial movement of wheat was a temporary step which had been taken only to monitor the wheat production in the province.

“I spoke to the Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, in this regard and he said as soon as this process of procurement of wheat in the province will be completed, the ban on inter-provincial movement of wheat will be lifted. However, there is no ban on movement of floor,” Mr Rind said.

He said there would be no shortage of wheat and people should not be worried on this count.