KARACHI: The government was taking necessary measures to meet the shortfall of one and a half million tonnes of foodgrains in East Pakistan, Mr Mahmoud Haroon, the Central Agriculture and Works Minister, said in Karachi yesterday [Oct 4].

Talking to newsmen on arrival here from Dacca, he said the shortfall would have to be met from foreign imports.

Listing the measures being taken by the Government to achieve self-sufficiency in food, he said the price of wheat had been set at Rs. 17 per maund so as to serve as an incentive to the cultivators.

The Minister said that the Government within its limited resources was doing its utmost to provide adequate foodgrain storage facilities.

He denied that the construction of foodgrain godowns in Karachi and elsewhere was being delayed.

The Minister said he had called for a progress report on the construction of the second capital at Dacca.

The Government would take necessary steps in case it was found that the work on the implementation of the project was not being carried out satisfactorily.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2019