ISLAMABAD, July 4: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani asked the Punjab government on Friday to relax the movement of wheat to deficient areas of the country to enable flour mills there to continue the grinding work.

Talking to Punjab Chief Minister Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif at the PM House, Mr Gilani said the process of wheat import was being expedited so that the consignments reached the country before the end of November.

The first formal meeting between the Punjab chief minister and the prime minister was attended by Minister for Finance Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal, Special Assistant to the PM on Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Special Assistant to the PM on Social Sector Shehnaz Wazir Ali.

The prime minister said the government would ensure adequate supply of wheat all over the country and necessary measures were being taken to meet the requirements of the provinces.

According to a government handout, Mr Gilani directed the ministries concerned to provide the provinces their share immediately after shipments were received at ports.

Mr Sharif thanked the prime minister for the timely review of the wheat situation in the country.