LAHORE: On Saturday, Punjab Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan directed the food department to increase the number of wheat procurement points across the province in order to meet the growing need.

The senior minister was told during a meeting that total 382 procurement points were functional across the province.

Provincial Secretary for Food Zafar Nasrullah Khan told the minister that the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) was buying wheat from 12 districts in Punjab.

On April 14, the food department had begun the procurement process at a fixed price of Rs1,400 per 40 kilograms. The price of 100 kilograms of wheat had been set at Rs3,900, according to the District Food Controller Amjad Ali Khan.

Today, according to APP, Khan ordered the authorities dealing with the matter to consult with members of the public to ensure the project’s smooth run.

The senior minister also ordered all precautionary steps to be placed in place in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. “Make sure to prevent large crowds at the procurement centres,” he said.

“Ensure hand sanitisers, social distance and clean drinking water to facilitate farmers at the centers,” Khan added.

Aleem Khan advised officials to remain cautious throughout the process, adding that it was the department’s duty to reach the procurement goal, in addition to ensuring product security.

“Wheat and flour are the most important food items so negligence would not be tolerated,” he said.