LAHORE, Jan 18: Private sector would be allowed to establish agriculture produce markets in the province and the government would introduce a new law to facilitate it.

This was stated by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi while presiding over a meeting held to review the performance of the agriculture marketing department staff here on Tuesday.

He said the permission to establish markets in the private sector would help create a healthy system of competition in the marketing system and eliminate the present trend of monopolizing business.

The chief minister said the government would also reduce the unproductive expenditure of the market committees to protect the rights of farmers and consumers. The role of the market committees would altogether be changed in the province.

He said a new system was being evolved to exchange rates of agriculture produce between all markets in the province. The government would make the market committees to play a positive role in helping farmers sell their produce at better rates.

The market committees would not only increase their resources but also provide different facilities to farmers. The chief minister said under the new system additional resources would be provided for the development of infrastructure in agriculture zones.

Model markets would also be established in Lahore and Multan. He said solid steps would be taken to improve the export of vegetables, fruits and other agriculture produce, setting up an export processing section.

Agriculture Minister Arshad Lodhi said the new agriculture marketing system would improve the economic condition of farmers. Agriculture Marketing Minister Qasim Noon said the effective role of private sector in the establishment of markets would improve the agriculture sector.