MANSEHRA: The food department has constituted a committee for wheat procurement in the district following the start of the harvesting of the major food grain.

“We have to purchase around 4,000 tonnes of the wheat grains in accordance with a target set by the government for this season for our district. A committee having representation of the anti-corruption watchdogs will complete the task without discrimination,” assistant district food controller Shaukat Sultan told reporters here on Friday.

He said the government had fixed Rs1,800 for the procurement of 40kg wheat, so the growers should approach the district food godown to sell their yields.

The official said a committee led by district food controller Ansar Qayyum and having the representation of the deputy commissioner and National Accountability Bureau or anti-corruption establishment would purchase wheat.

“We can easily achieve wheat procurement target,” he said.

Official says 4,000 tonnes of wheat to be bought in Mansehra

The harvesting of wheat crops has begun in Mansehra, Oghi, Balakot, Baffa-Pakhal and Darband tehsils of Mansehra district.

Grower Mohammad Duran said the government had fixed the price of Rs45 per 40kg for the procurement of wheat grains, which, according to the current high inflation, was not beneficial for growers.

He said the government should reconsider its wheat price and increase it to at least Rs50 per kg.

KILLED: A man killed his younger brother in a jirga held to settle a domestic dispute in Rehgalla area on Friday.

Abdul Aziz gunned down Mir Afzal after having heated exchanges.

The police said the deceased had taken up a government job to the annoyance of his brother.

The police registered an FIR and began search for the gunman.

Meanwhile, four people suffered critical injuries when a pick-up vehicle overturned on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road in Barkund area.

The residents shifted the injured to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, whose doctors referred two of them to the Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, due to serious condition.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021