DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Provincial food minister Zahir Shah Toru on Wednesday said the government had decided to procure 600,000 metric tonnes of wheat, out of which, around 300,000 tonnes would be purchased directly from local growers at a rate of Rs3,900 per 40 kilogrammes.

He announced this while talking to mediapersons during his visit here. He also visited a food department’s godown on Daraban Road.

Mr Toru said the timely and better planning of the provincial government for wheat procurement would benefit the farmers. “Our farmers are hard working and their rights will be safeguarded,” he assured and added provision of all facilities to farmers would be ensured.

“The province produces 150,000 tonnes of wheat against its requirement of 500,000 tonnes,” he said.

“The purchase of local wheat was being preferred to imported one or from Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation,” the minister said and added it would save the provincial government Rs12 billion.

Mr Toru said the purchased wheat would be stored in warehouses.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2024