Federal government to allow private sector import wheat:Bilal Yasin

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Food, Bilal Yasin has said that Punjab government has made recommendations to the federal government to allow private sector import five lakh metric ton of wheat besides import tax/ withholding tax be reduced on the imported wheat.

He said that Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has set up a committee, comprising Food Minister, Chief Secretary, Secretary Law and Secretary Food for release of wheat and fixing its price. He said that the committee has requested Punjab Chief Minister to allow private sector import five lakh metric tons of wheat so that there is no shortage of wheat and flour in the country.

This decision has been taken because KPK and Balochistan government had not purchased wheat in abundant quantity. Bilal Yasin said that the committee has recommended not imposing ban on transportation of wheat to other provinces. He said that currently Punjab government has 40 lakh metric tons of wheat reserves and the decision regarding its import has been taken to ensure strategic storage.