20000219

Azim asks millers

to bring down atta

price to Rs 9 per kg

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Azim Daudpota has said that provision of concessions and subsidies by the government in connection with food and other facilities should not be allowed to become a source of mere trading, profiteering, black-marketing and smuggling.

"These are only aimed at accruing due facilities to consumers and good return to farmers for their hard work", the Governor said while presiding over a meeting held to fix the new crop wheat procurement target.

Later, the Governor also held a meeting with a delegation of Four Mills Association.

Sindh Agriculture Minister, Iftekhar Soomro, Chief Secretary Zubair Kidwai, Secretary to Governor, Food Secretary Munawar Opel and Director Food Sohail Akbar Shah were also present on the occasion.

The Governor urged upon the flour mills owners to supply flour to consumers at a "right price" comparable with other provinces. He told them to bring the price down from Rs 9 per kg.

He cautioned them that the wheat quota of flour mill owners who would not reduce the price would be given to flour mills who would think about the welfare of country and people along with their business and profit and "are ready' to supply flour at right price.

It was decided in the meeting that the system of supply of flour to people would not be allowed to become a source of profiteering and it would be ensured that both consumers and farmers would be actually benefited.

He said that the government would not make any fresh allocation of wheat to flour mills. However, if there was need, the flour mills association could re-allocate the quota and supply wheat to new flour mills on its own.

The Governor pointed out that a service, like supply of food to people would not be allowed to be harmed by political or vested interests.

He regretted that a political leader, Nisar Khuhro, came and talked him about a flour mill and wheat but issued a political statement to the press.

It was made clear at the meeting that permission for establishment of a new flour mill would not mean an agreement with the governor for supply of wheat quota.

As regard the procurement of wheat, it was decided that after the provincial wheat procurement target is achievement, only then Paso would be allowed the purchase of wheat. Later on the effort would be that wheat is purchased from Pasco at the same rate the government purchased the commodity.

Caution was handed down that government functionaries should not procure wheat forcibly from private reserves.

The meeting reviewed the measures to check wheat smuggling from Sindh and, in this regard, it was decided to post Rangers at the check-posts.ÑAPP