MIRPURKHAS, Feb 22: Licences of wheat traders have been cancelled and the Sindh government will now buy wheat from growers, according to Sindh food secretary Mir Mohammad Parhiyar.

Talking to journalists here on Sunday, he said the action had been taken as wheat traders had failed to submit record of their purchase and sale. He maintained if any trader was found purchasing wheat, action would be taken against him. The secretary said a ban had also been imposed on the inter-taluka transfer of wheat.

He said the wheat crop was ready for harvesting in some areas of the Mirpurkhas district. Mr Parhiyar said the food department had set up wheat procurement centres in the district and the amount for the purchase had been provided to bank concerned.

He said payments would be made on the spot to growers. He said the government would provide Bardana direct to growers while the department would load wheat from the farms.

The secretary said earlier hoarders purchased wheat on cheap rates and sold it when there was a shortage in the market. "It will not happen again", he added.

He said wheat procurement target had been fixed at 600,000 tons for Sindh whereas target of wheat procurement for Mirpurkhas was 100,000. He said condition of godowns of food department would be improved so that wheat could be saved from attacks of bugs.

He assured the delegation of flour mill and chakki owners that wheat quota would be provided to them and said dues of transporters would be paid soon. Later, he visited the wheat procurement centres of Umerkot, Pithoro and other areas.