KARACHI, Jan 10: Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro stressed the need for coordinated planning by the federal and provincial governments in advance to procure and store the wheat as the threshing season for wheat crop comes closer.

Chairing a high-level meeting attended by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Abdul Qadir Halepota and others at the Governor’s House on Thursday, the prime minister said that farmers should use better technology to have better yield in order to meet the wheat requirements of the country.

Mr Soomro asked provincial governments to ensure grinding of wheat and distribution of flour under the supervision of their respective food departments. He directed the provincial food departments to check the declared stocks of licence-holders and confiscate any undeclared stock.

The federal food minister informed the meeting that 32,000-metric-ton wheat was being released daily by the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock. He said that food ministry was importing 1.5 million ton wheat which had started arriving and the entire import would be completed by the mid of February.

The prime minister was informed that people had started buying flour more than their requirement which was affecting its availability and price.

The provincial food secretary said that the problem of wheat flour availability in Sindh was not as grave as was the high price, which was the reason of buyers’ rush at utility stores.

On the occasion, the caretaker prime minister was also briefed on the assessment work done by the government commission on damages caused after Rawalpindi tragedy. Agreeing that the task was huge as the damages were massive, he expressed confidence that the poor claimants would be given priority and the entire assessment would be completed in one month.

He also issued directive for immediate disbursement of Rs0.3 million to the heirs of each deceased and Rs50,000 to the injured.Reviewing the law and order situation in Sindh, Mr Soomro asked the provincial government to ensure proper security of mosques and Imambargahs during Muharram and said the arrangements be remained in place till elections.

Later, a delegation of sugar industry and sugarcane growers also called on him at the Governor’s House.—APP