20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

LAHORE, Jan 19: Punjab on Monday requested the government to allow it to import 100,000 tons of wheat for ensuring smooth supply in the province.

The request came in a meeting presided over by the chief minister and attended by federal Food, Agriculture and Livestock minister Yar Mohammad Rind, Minister of State Sikandar Bosan, Agriculture Secretary Nazir Salik and Punjab Food Minister Chaudhry Iqbal.

The meeting decided that Punjab would provide 100,000 tons of wheat to Sindh. It would provide 50,000 tons immediately and the rest after assessing its own position and Sindh's stocks.

Sindh needs wheat immediately because the import process is taking too long for it. The province hoped to get imported wheat by the first week of February, but now it will get the consignment by the end of February.

Sindh will return wheat to Punjab as soon as it gets import supplies. The meeting noted that since there was no ban on the movement of the commodity, Sindh was getting around 2,000 tons of wheat and flour daily.

Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP are getting 45,000 to 50,000 tons daily. According to the Punjab food department's estimates, it will be left with 100,000 tons if it continues to issue 15,000 tons of wheat daily, but if Sindh does not return the wheat, it would be left with nothing. Punjab has sought permission to import wheat to ensure smooth supply if the new crop is delayed.