ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Sufficient stock of wheat is available to meet domestic needs and half a million tons will be available at the time of new crop’s harvesting.

According to source, there is no shortage of wheat in the country and the government has sufficient stock to meet local requirements.

“We have sufficient wheat stock of 20.25 million tons against domestic requirement of 19.7 million tons,” the sources said.

They said: “We have a crop of 19.25 million tons besides a carryover stock of one million tons available from last year’s crop.”

They said certain quarters were trying to create a confusion in this regard to fulfil their vested interests.

The production this year was slightly less than the target of 19.75 million tons, yet there was no need of worry, they said.

The wheat production during 2002-03 increased by 5.6 per cent from 18.23 million tons in 2001-02.

The farmers got the official price of Rs300 per 40kg at their doorstep, sources claimed.

The banks provided Rs6 billion this year to the private sector for purchase of wheat but now some elements wanted to increase the prices by spreading rumours, they said.

The government would not allow increase in the wheat price and the requirements of the provinces would be met in accordance with their needs, they said.

Wheat export had been suspended for three months, however, the agreements already reached with other governments were being fulfilled, they said.—APP