LAHORE: The Federa­tion of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Standing Com­mittee on Agriculture has expressed its displeasure over the halting of wheat procurement in Punjab by Passco.

FPCCI panel chief Chaudhry Ahmad Jawad said in a statement that wheat growers in Punjab were facing significant challenges as Passco has halted wheat procurement. Numerous complaints have been received regarding Passco officials’ failure to procure wheat, even to meet the previous target of 1.4m tonnes, as the process has been suspended. Also, it has been reported that most zonal heads of the corporation are issuing gunny bags to middlemen rather than to farmers.

Mr Jawad urged the prime minister to conduct a third-party audit on whe­at procurement by Pas­­sco and issue strict directives to its managing director to resume wheat procurement transparently.

He demanded FPCCI re­­­presentation on the wheat board of the Min­is­try of National Food and Security.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2024