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Govt plans to increase USC wheat quota

AHMAD RAUF

ISLAMABAD: The federal government plans to increase Utility Stores Corporation wheat quota in provincial releases to overcome the ongoing wheat and wheat flour crises in Sindh and NWFP.

Official sources told Fortuna on Saturday a proposal for increasing the Corporation's quota was currently with the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Federal cabinet that had asked Planning Division to investigate the causes of fresh increase in the wheat and flour prices ahead of a final decision.

Sources said the Planning Division had suggested in its report that the government must increase provincial quota of wheat to the Corporation so that existing flour shortage could be controlled and the prices of this essential commodity could be brought down.

They said that while referring to the recent meeting of kitchen items committee, which examines on weekly basis the availability and prices of kitchen items, the Planning Division has pointed out that increase in quota for the Corporation in wheat deficit provinces will stabilise prices.

They said Planning Division also informed the ECC that kitchen items review committee also discussed in details the issue of relatively higher prices of wheat and wheat flour in the Karachi, Hyderabad and other parts of the country.

Sources quoted Planning officials as pointing towards Federal Bureau of Statistics report that the whole of Hyderabad was without good quality wheat flour.

Sources said the Planning Division report was considered by the ECC which also directed the Ministry of Industries and Production to investigate and report existing wheat and wheat flour supply position in Hyderabad.-Fortuna