ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: Rice growers disclosed here on Monday that Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Supplies Corporation (Passco) had closed rice procurement from Feb 1 while 35 per cent rice paddy was still lying with farmers.

The growers urged the government to restart rice procurement at support price of Rs1,500 per 40 kgs through Passco and the TCP.

They were speaking at a press conference, with the chairman of the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) at Islamabad Press Club on Monday.

They said that the TCP was procuring rice from rice mills which was discouraging growers. They demanded that the TCP should directly buy paddy from growers.

CAP Chairman Kaukab Iqbal alleged that many politicians in the current and previous governments were involved in hoarding and black-market, but due to their influence, they did not face any hurdle in carrying out their activities.