May 4, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1427

ISLAMABAD, May 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has imposed with immediate effect 10 per cent regulatory duty on the import of wheat.

“The decision would discourage imports of wheat and ensure that local farmers get at least the minimum price of Rs415 per 40 kg”, said Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan while briefing the newsmen on Tuesday.

He said that the prime minister had taken this measure in the interest of the farmers and to keep farming a profitable profession for the sake of the country’s future food security.

The wheat growers associations from Punjab and Sindh had demanded the food ministry to ensure that farmers got at least Rs440-450 per 40 kg this year keeping in view rising prices of various inputs.

Mr Bosan further said that there was no inter-provincial ban on the movement of wheat and that the commodity could be transported between districts without any hindrance.

He said the government had fixed wheat procurement target of five million tons this year. Food departments in Punjab would get three million tons and Sindh 700,000 tons, while Pakistan Agricultural Storages and Services Corporation (PASSCO) would buy 1.3 million tons.