LARKANA:To raise the issue of non-establishment of wheat procurement centers and Sindh government’s failure to announce wheat policy, the opposition member in Sindh Assembly Moazim Ali Abbasi has announced to table a joint opposition resolution on 15th April when the session will commence.
He also announced to hold a massive protest in Larkana of wheat growers of 10 to 12 districts. MPA Moazim Abbasi was talking to media persons at local press club here on Friday along with growers of Larkana, Kambar-Shahdadkot, Shikarpur and Khairpur districts.
He said wheat procurement has already started in Punjab and other provinces at government level but Sindh government has so far failed to announce any policy. He said Sindh government used to procure wheat through Food Department at Rs 1300 per 40 kg due to which stability in the market was also seen but now the situation is different as government has so far not announced any price or procurement.
He alleged that 80% corruption is made during wheat procurement but after much delay now more corruption will be made in wheat purchasing. He further alleged that a particular business group of a Sindh-based politician make Bardano or gunny bags for packing of wheat. He said in sugarcane growers protested in Naudero but they were not paid their dues.
Sindh Abadgar Board leader Irfan Jatoi said that Punjab has produced 6.5 million tons of wheat out of which Punjab Government will be procuring four million tons for which procurement policy has already been announced and Bardano is being distributed among the growers but unfortunately Sindh government has done nothing as yet.
He said in Sindh out of 4.2 million tons Sindh Government is procuring only 14 to 16 lakh tons annually due to which growers are benefited but this year even policy has not been declared and in open market wheat is being purchased at Rs1050 per 40 kg adding when full crop will reach the market then the rate will drop to Rs 900.
He said growers have been protesting for past ten days but Sindh government is saying they have no funds for fresh procurement.