12 November 2004	Friday	28 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Nov 11: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Thursday presided over a high-level meeting and reviewed availability of wheat, flour, sugar and other essential commodities in the province.

Federal Food Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan and Sindh Food Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi were also present on the occasion.

Thee meeting took serious notice of the reports regarding shortage of wheat and atta in certain parts of the province, and decided to take comprehensive measures in this regard.

The chief minister directed secretary and director of food to take steps for maintaining the flour prices at Rs12 and Rs12.50, as fixed by the government, and take action against profiteers.

The meeting was told that 100,000 tonnes of wheat was arriving from Punjab and, if required, more wheat could be acquired from that province.

Mr Jatoi informed the meeting that Sindh was facing a shortage of 400,000 tonnes of wheat. However, he added, with the expected arrival of fresh crop, the situation would improve.

The meeting urged the Punjab government to lift the ban on inter-provincial movement of wheat to bring the wheat prices down to a reasonable level throughout the country.

The chief minister deplored owners of flour mills for increasing atta prices and called for encouraging chakki owners in this regard. He directed the food department to enlist chakkis in the province and ensure wheat supply to them on a priority basis.

Federal Food Minister Mr Bosan advised the Sindh government to make efforts towards increasing cultivation of wheat and ensuring a high yield. He pledged that the federal government would provide facilities to the province in this regard.

The meeting was told that the Sindh government had received its share of Rs712 million in terms of corporate farming from the World Bank. A committee has been constituted for appointment on different vacant seats in the concerned projects.

It expressed satisfaction over sugar price and noted that the same were being monitored both at federal and provincial levels.

Mr Bosan said that the centre would provide more sugar to help maintain sugar prices in the market.

The meeting also considered reactivating the Sindh Seed Corporation. In this regard, Dr Arbab directed the concerned officials to run the corporation's affairs in accordance with the decisions of the Sindh cabinet and also to benefit from the experience and research of Punjab. He sought a detail report on the performance of the Punjab Seed Corporation.

Mr Jatoi told the meeting that 189 employees of the Sindh Seed Corporation had not been paid their salaries of four months.

Dr Arbab asked officers of the agriculture department to focus their attention on research and experiments in order to help the province achieve self-reliance.

After a detailed discussion on the affairs of the Korangi Fish Harbour, it was decided that development work, like road construction, installation of streetlights, setting up of a medical centre and police picket, etc., at the harbour be undertaken.

Sindh agriculture secretary, livestock and fisheries secretary, MDs of Karachi Fish Harbour and Korangi Fish Harbour and principal secretary to the chief minister also attended the meeting.-PPI