MULTAN, Oct 17: Specifications regarding wheat quality will strictly be observed while encouraging the private sector to import wheat to bridge the demand and supply gap.

This was said by the joint secretary (food) of the federal agriculture ministry, Nasir Mehmood Khosa, in a statement while responding to a news item, ‘Wheat import in violation of policy’, published in this paper on Monday (Oct 17).

He said that the SRO-709 and the statutory notifications issued thereafter to set rule and regulations for wheat import were being followed in letter and spirit.

He said however the consignment of wheat (coming to the country from Russia on a ship called Captain Pegglezos) could not be checked by the representatives of the ministry of agriculture at the port of discharge as per the statutory precondition due to non-issuance of Russian visa.

He said nevertheless the consignment would be checked thoroughly at the outer reach of the Pakistani sea limits regarding the specifications laid down under the SRO-709. He said if found substandard the consignment would not be allowed to anchor at any port.

Captain Pegglezos has come to Pakistan carrying a consignment of 49,235 tons of wheat imported by a Karachi-based firm under the duty free regime announced through the SRO-567 viz-a-viz exemption in custom duty and withholding income tax on the import of wheat.

The government had laid down certain technical, procedural and pre-shipment conditions through the SRO-709 for the import of wheat.

Under the SRO, the intended importers also have to accept deputation of an official team designated by the Minfal to the port of loading for the purpose of inspection and overseeing the compliance of requirements laid down in the law. The importers are also directed to get pre-shipment inspection of the commodity through any of the five international agencies approved by the government of Pakistan.

Under the technical conditions the importers are liable to ensure access of the pre-shipment inspectors and the Minfal representatives to the stocks for inspection, sampling and testing before being set off for Pakistan from the exporting country.