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Sindh govt to
purchase less wheat under new procurement policy
KARACHI-The Sindh government has
changed its procurement policy and decided to reduce the
purchase of wheat from 0.7 million to 0.3 million tonnes in
current season with the rate of Rs 300 per 40kg. Sources
disclosing this to The News said that the Sindh Food
Department also decided to close its 250 procurement centers
in the province.
Insiders said the decision had surprised growers, and experts
claimed that more than 2.5 million tonnes wheat would be
destroyed if the provincial administration did not revise the
policy. The experts pointed out that as compared to Sindh,
Punjab government decided to purchase 4 million tonnes of
wheat in current season.
It was also pointed out that Punjab government would purchase
2.5 million tonnes while 1.5 million tonnes wheat would be
purchased through the PASCO. Sources said that Sindh
government's decision about reducing the procurement of wheat
was taken on the report of the former food secretary who
pointed out that one million tonnes wheat purchased from
Punjab last year was already dumped in godowns and available
for the next year.
However, the official sources claimed that the one million
tonnes wheat purchased from Punjab had been damaged due to the
negligence of authorities who failed to protect the stock.
Sources said that the government had rented out godowns and
paid Rs 8 million per month for the purpose and Rs 50 million
for fumigation in these godowns. But the authorities fumigated
these godowns only after the wheat got infected with disease.
The authorities admitted that the Sindh finance department had
released Rs 50 million for fumigation in these godowns before
dumping the stock but the food department did not use this
budget and finally the allocated budget lapsed and returned to
the finance department.
Sources said the local officials of food department had
informed the concerned authorities through reports that the
fumigation was necessary before dumping the stock but the
former secretary rejected the proposal.
Experts said the posting of non-technical officials as
secretary and food director was the main reason of the
negligence and loss of millions of rupees but no action was
taken against the responsible authorities and policy was
changed.
Sources further said that growers were upset due to the policy
of the government who fixed the wheat price as Rs 300 per 40kg
while the cost of 40kg wheat was Rs 350. Farmers were also
worried that government did not arrange godowns for dumping
2.5 million tonnes wheat.
courtesy Daily The News, 2
April, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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