ISLAMABAD, July 12: Punjab Food Minister Chaudhary Muhammad Iqbal said on Saturday that there was no ban on inter-provincial movement of wheat.

Speaking in a PTV programme he dispelled the impression that the Punjab government had imposed a ban on inter-provincial wheat movement.

“We are just monitoring wheat movement in order to ensure food security of Punjab, as there were evidences that some individuals were hoarding the commodity with the aim of cross-border smuggling,” he said.

Over 2.4 million tons of wheat had been procured in Punjab, and the whole process was conducted fairly and amicably, he said. Not even a single complaint was lodged against anyone this year, he added.

Nearly 0.2 million metric tonnes of carry-over wheat stocks were also present to meet the provincial needs, the minister said.

The support price was paid to every farmer as the market was open, and the growers were happy with the price offered.

Replying to a question, he said in the second step, food security of the province was being ensured for which a temporary step was taken. As soon as the task of stocktaking was completed everything will be cleared.

However, he said, the movement of flour was totally without any restriction.

“We want to stop cross-border movement and only illegal wheat movement was being discouraged,” he remarked.

Over two million metric tonnes of wheat is the annual demand in Punjab, he said.

“We want to ensure sustained wheat provision throughout the province with stable flour price,” he added.

Every province can get wheat through tenders and its further movement under this process is legal and will be facilitated, the minister said. Flour millers are also allowed to carry their wheat stocks, he added.—APP