7, April 2005	Thursday	27 Safar 1426

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GUJRANWALA, April 6: The Punjab government has constituted a committee comprising two provincial ministers and chief secretary, besides secretaries of departments concerned, to monitor procurement of wheat and ensure timely payment to farmers while procurement centres have been doubled throughout the province. This was stated by Punjab Food Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal, while speaking at a briefing here on Wednesday.

He pointed out that Punjab chief minister had fixed the wheat procurement target at 3.5 million tons, while farmers would be paid Rs400 per 40kg, besides transportation expenditures etc.

He said the new committee comprising ministers of food and agricultural, besides chief secretary and secretaries, would monitor the progress on wheat procurement. It would also ensure provision of empty bags (Bardana) to farmers, he added.

KILLED: A man was kidnapped for ransom and later shot dead by unidentified accused here on Wednesday.

Reports said Abdul Jabbar alias Shahbaz Ali Shah was kidnapped from his house. The accused demanded Rs20 million for his release. Later, they killed him and threw his body in Phalia.

Police claimed to have arrested two accused Shahid and Khuram and are investigating.