LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Food Samiullah Chaudhry has said that shortage of wheat and flour was created in the province under pre-planned scheme.
Addressing a press conference at DGPR office on Tuesday, he said that planners of this scheme are those who do not like Imran Khan as Prime Minister and Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister Punjab. Neither Prime Minister nor Chief Minister Punjab will change because of this baseless propaganda.
Samiullah Chaudhry said that PTI government during the last ten years has first time disbursed timely and complete payment to the cultivators of their produce. Gunny bags have been distributed among the farmers in a transparent manner and every single grain of wheat has been obtained from them respectfully.
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He said that Punjab government kept the gunny bag policy to remain open. Toll-free numbers were provided to the farmers by the food department where they can register their complaints regarding gunny bags distribution.
The provincial minister said that Punjab government showed a responsible behaviour and procured wheat of its share where Sindh government failed to do so. He said that today Sindh government is making claim that it has 8.5 lac metric ton wheat reserves but when NAB team conducted raids on their godowns they found mud and sand in the bags.
Punjab government showed a responsible behaviour and procured wheat of its share where Sindh government failed to do so.
He further maintained that the allegations levelled by PPP government in Sindh that regarding export of 7 lac metric ton wheat by PTI government is against the fact. He said that when PTI government came into power then it had 7.3 million metric ton wheat reserves of last four years.
Samiullah Chaudhry said that we did not export these reserves but sale them in the local market. He said that now when Sindh and KPK province have no reserves of wheat, CM Punjab has allowed to provide wheat to the other provinces and Punjab has decided to provide 5000 metric ton wheat to KPK on daily basis and Punjab while playing role of elder brother will also provide wheat to Sindh and Balochistan if required.
He said that today Punjab has 2.3 million metric ton wheat reserves. He said that 482 sale points and 207 truck stations have been provided to provide flour to the people where 20kg flour bag is available at Rs790.
INP/LK/SB
