Manend Team 
ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Prime Minister Imran Khan said that
government functionaries should realize the sufferings of the public
due to artificial price hike and administrative failures. Meanwhile in
order to enhance flour production and to bring down flour price, it has
been decided that 80:20 grinding ratio of wheat will be ensured by the
provincial governments. Moreover, the Prime Minister has also tasked
Finance Minister to review the existing business model of procurement
of wheat and to suggest ways and means to cut down administrative
costs being incurred during procurement, transmission and storage
process of wheat.
The decision was taken during a high level meeting with Prime Minister
Imran Khan in chair. The meeting was attended among others by
federal and provincial ministers and relevant federal and provincial
secretaries. Chief Secretaries of the provinces were also present
during the meeting via video link.
The Prime Minister was informed by Senior Provincial Minister for Food
Punjab that as per his directions, the Punjab government was
releasing wheat to flour mills since 07 July 2020. It was informed that
so far 3.6 MT wheat has been released with a provision of Rs. 50
billion as subsidy.
The meeting was informed that Punjab was incurring a cost of Rs. 510
per 40kg of wheat in lieu of various administrative charges including
procurement, transmission and storage. This additional burden was
being absorbed by the provincial government and was not being
passed on to the consumers.
The Prime Minister directed Finance Minister to review the existing
system of procurement and to suggest an efficient business model for
the purpose of cutting down additional expenses being incurred by the
food department.
Chief Secretary Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa briefed the Prime
Minister about the existing regulatory mechanisms of the provinces for
establishment of fruit and vegetable markets.
Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed that after the directives
of the Prime Minister, 65 Kissan Markets have been established in the
province. On tehsil level, 13 markets have been set-up where the
licenses were auctioned. In addition, 23 markets have been
established at raw sites.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the existing provisions of Punjab
Agricultural Marketing Regulatory Authority Act 2018 and its
subsequent amendments.
The Prime Minister while disapproving the stringent criterion for
establishment of private farm markets directed that the existing
mechanism be reviewed to make it easy, convenient and affordable for
the private sector.
The Prime Minister directed that the laws be suitably amended to put
in place a compliance regime rather than approvals; the powers of
regulation be devolved to divisional and district level and all activities
at market be video recorded to ensure transparency during
auctioneering.
The Prime Minister also directed Chief Secretaries that the
administration should ensure that commodities at retail level are being
provided to the consumers at officially notified prices. He directed that
strict action should be taken against the concerned officials in case of
any neglect.
