June 11, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1427

ISLAMABAD, June 10: The government on Saturday decided to import 150,000 tons of gram (whole) besides to provide subsidy of Rs8 per kg or Rs8,000 per ton to importers of the private sector.

A senior official in the ministry of industry and production said that the subsidy would be provided to the private sector importer on the first come first served basis.

The notification or general order in this regard was expected to be issued on Monday, as the secretary of industry was not available in the federal capital, added the official.

Regarding the pattern and procedure of the subsidy, the official said it would be the same as was provided in the case of import of cement.

When contacted Advisor to Finance Dr Ashfaq Hassan Khan told Dawn that of the total import 150,000 tons of gram whole, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) would import 50,000 tons while the remaining 100,000 tons would be imported by the private sector.

The import of gram would increase the supply of the commodity which would stabilise the price in market.

In case of failure of the private sector to import the gram pulse, the TCP would fill the gap by importing the remaining quantity, the he added.

The TCP would also import 10,000 tons of mash pulse (whole) for which it had already issued tenders, the adviser said.

Staff Reporter adds from Karachi: Despite the fact Pakistan is presently having highest world stocks of gram at around 400,000 tons on harvesting its crop late last month but yet it falls much short than its actual consumption of around 850,000 tons.

The gram known as kala channa has a large variety and style of consumption. However, its crop is short the world over and presently only available in Ethiopia, Australia and India. Last year it was being quoted at around $300 per ton in the world market and now has soared to $510-$540 per ton.

Kala channa was being sold at around Rs31 per kg in domestic market but the landed cost of imported gram was expected to come at around Rs33 per kg, observed Pakistan Commodity Importers Association president Raees Ashraf Tarmohammed. However, he feared that stockists and hoarders may unload their stocks once importers entered into deals and this would result in huge losses.