November 4, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1424

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: The Wheat Disposal Committee was informed on Monday that the government has 3.6 million tons of wheat in its stocks.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind was attended, besides Federal Agriculture Secretary Salik Nazir Ahmed, by the Food Minister of NWFP, Fazal-i-Rabbani, Provincial Food Secretary from Punjab, Sindh and NWFP and representatives of ministries of finance and commerce.

According to official press release, the meeting decided to provide 50,000 tons and 30,000 tons of wheat to NWFP and Sindh, respectively from Passco stocks. The allocation to NWFP is in addition to the 29,000 tons which it has yet to lift.

The press release did not, however, specify whether these allocations are for the remainder of the wheat year or whether these are to be renewed periodically, in view of the fast rising prices of wheat and wheat flour.