“Wheat prices will not be raised… there is no shortage of wheat in the country,” Federal Minister for Food and Security Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said on Saturday.
He was speaking at a ceremony, in connection with the government’s energy programme, at the Multan Electric Power Company’s (MEPCO) office in Musa Pak.
The minister said all provinces would be taken into confidence regarding wheat prices. He said “Farmers and the masses will be taken into consideration before a final decision is taken.”
“There is no wheat crisis or dearth of food grains in the country… the government will continue its policies for the next 20 years,” he added.
Bosan said the government would do its best to resolve the challenges faced by the agricultural sector.
“A major challenge is to control food prices… the Ministry of Food will regularly focus on this,” he added.
Sugar exports
The minister said sugar mills would not be allowed to export sugar until local demand was met.
“More than 100 cases have been registered against mill owners for stockpiling sugar.” He said these mill owners had made attempts to smuggle sugar abroad without seeking permission from the government. “Our doors are open… anyone can register a complaint against hoarding and high sugar prices in the open market in violation of the rules set by the government.”
Energy crisis
Distributing energy savers among electricity consumers in Musa Pak, Bosan said experts at the Ministry of Water and Power had concluded that a minimum of 1,500 megawatts of electricity could be saved in the country by using energy savers.
The minister said the Peeran Ghaib power station, with a capacity to generate 265 megawatts, would be reopened soon. “It is on my priority list… I have already discussed the matter with the Ministry of Water and Power,” he said.
Law and order
Condemning the recent wave of terrorist attacks in the country, Bosan said the government was considering military operation as well as talks with the Taliban.
“The government wants a consensus on the issue… so that the army, the people of Pakistan and the government are all on the same page,” he said.
The minister said as of the moment, the government had not finalised its policy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2014.