IT is encouraging to note that cumulative wheat yield touched 25 million tons this year. There is no doubt that it can meet needs of 190 million people of Pakistan. It is not out of place to mention that Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) has limited covered godowns which cannot house the entire yield and is forced to stack surplus wheat in open spaces over brick beds covered with tarpaulin. This is not considered adequate measures as staked gunny bags are very much prone to rough weather such as dust storms and rains, thus exposing wheat to rainwater. As a result, wheat gets affected badly and is not suitable to be sent to flour mills for processing.

I had a chance to personally see such storage conditions in the Bhawalnagar area during my recent visit.

I request the caretaker prime minister and chief ministers of all provinces, besides Passco, to make immediate arrangements to have covered godowns to avoid wastage of wheat anymore by stakeholders concerned.

LT-CDR (r) RIAZ AKBAR Wah Cantt