29 February 2004	Sunday	08 Muharram 1425

MULTAN, Feb 28: Punjab Minister for Agricultural Marketing Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon has said the federal government had decided on the recommendation of the Punjab government to export 0.25m tons of potato.

Talking to newsmen here on Saturday, he said that the decision had been taken to ensure fair price to the local potato growers by dealing with glut of the commodity.

He said the federal government was generous enough that it had announced a 25 per cent concession in freight on potato export.

The minister said that the surplus quantity of potato production would be exported by March 10.

He said the Punjab government had taken up the potato crisis seriously as he visited the areas known for its production and then convened a meeting of the growers in Lahore to work out practical proposals.

The minister said that later on he held meetings with the federal commerce minister and other officials to pursue them to help export potato.