LAHORE, April 15: Chief Minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to ensure transparent procurement of wheat, early payment of dues to farmers and smooth supply of flour to consumers at reasonable rates.

Presiding over a meeting here, he also directed the agencies concerned to collect information about hoarders and initiate stern action against them.

The chief minister said it should be ensured that farmers should not face any difficulty during the wheat procurement campaign. Though the recent rains had delayed arrival of the new crop, the supply of wheat to the mills should continue from the government stocks to avoid any shortage in the province.

He urged effective measures to meet the wheat shortage in any district and ordered the officers concerned to make the procurement process transparent.

He ordered that measures be adopted for eliminating mismanagement and corruption from food department and cultivators should have direct access to its officers.

He said toll-free numbers were being installed at the district headquarters of the department so that farmers could easily contact the authorities concerned for redressal of their grievances. The officials concerned should remain available at all wheat procurement centers, which should have complaint boxes, he ordered.

Later, a delegation of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association, Punjab, led by its president Habibur Rahman, called on the chief minister and assured him of full cooperation.