PESHAWAR, March 1: World Food Programme (WFP) has said it will shortly resume distribution of flour to internally displaced persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata in light of the sanction of 75,000 metric tons wheat by the federal government.

The UN agency had suspended distribution of the staple food item to the displaced persons last month due to exhaustion of wheat stock and provided 40 kilogrammes rice to per family as a substitute.

WFP spokesman Amjad Jamal told Dawn on Friday that flour distribution to IDPs would resume shortly.

He said that after receiving wheat consignment the UN body would seek funds from donors for transportation and grinding of wheat.

Initially WFP had sought 150,000 metric tons of wheat from the government to meet food requirements of IDPs.

The spokesman said Economic Coordination Committee had already sanctioned wheat consignment and the stock would be collected from warehouses of Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation soon. He said Passco would identify locations from where wheat stock would be collected.

In a statement, the agency said that the wheat consignment valued approximately $25 million.

“This very timely contribution is greatly welcomed and demonstrates the government’s ownership of the development process and commitment to helping its people,” the statement quoted Jean-Luc Siblot, WFP country director as saying.