TOBA TEK SINGH, April 27: A dispute between the Pakistan Agricultural Supplies and Services Corporation (Passco) and the district food department over procurement of wheat has been brought to the notice of the district government.

An official stated here on Tuesday that the district coordination officer had sent a letter to the district police officer apprising the latter of a complaint lodged by the district food controller about Passco's illegally procurement of wheat in Kamalia and Toba Tek Singh tehsils, as the provincial government had earmarked only Gojra tehsil for wheat purchase by Passco.

The DCO added that food department officials had conducted raids and confiscated wheat procured by Passco in Pirmahal. The local police was asked to help prevent illegal wheat purchase by Passco in Pirmahal, but they did not.

The DCO urged the DPO to direct all police officials to stop both Passco and the food department from purchasing wheat in areas not earmarked for them. The district food controller claimed that the food department had purchased 93,900 bags by Tuesday, through six centres in Kamalia and Toba Tek Singh tehsils.

He added that provincial government had set the target at one million bags of 100kg each, as against 690,000 bags last year. He stated that there were many unlicensed traders purchasing wheat and food department officials had raided and recovered hundreds of unlawfully purchased bags, while police had been asked to register cases against 12 people in this connection.

When this correspondent visited some food department procurement centres, hardly a few farmers were around. They informed this reporter that private buyers were offering higher prices. They said they had brought wheat to the centres only because it was substandard.

A source said there were 11 flour mills in the district all of which were purchasing and stocking wheat. Rich farmers were also not selling wheat and were waiting for a price hike.