LAHORE: Punjab Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has claimed that 96 per cent of the wheat procurement target set for the current season has been achieved as some wheat purchasing centres remained open even during the Eid days.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the senior minister said that the 3.5 million tonne target set for procurement of the grain this season would be easily achieved, as 96pc of it had been procured so far.

He said the wheat purchase would pick up further when banks reopen on Monday (today). The food department and district administration continued to procure grains even during the Eid holidays due to which the government would soon achieve its 100pc target earlier than expected.

Mr Khan said the government would ensure supply of this wheat to flour mills at low rates so that people could buy wheat flour (atta) at the minimum possible price.

He said that recent changes in the weather did affect the harvest season to some extent, but due to the overall bumper crop, plenty of grain would be available to both the public and private sector this year.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2021