Giuseppe
Emeritus
Wheat at fair price to be ensured in Ramazan, NA told
Associated Press of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD:
Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Nazar Mohammed Gondal Friday said the government would ensure availability of wheat at fair price during the holy month of Ramzan.
"We are well-equipped and have enough quantity of wheat to be provided at balanced price to facilitate the people in holy month," the minister told National Assembly in reply to a question.
He said an amount of about 15.4 billion was spent for agricultural development through Public Sector Development Programme during 2007-08 while an amount of Rs20 billion would be spent for the purpose during current year.
He said the ministry was executing a mega project "Crop Maximization Project-II" in 1020 villages of all four provinces to increase overall agricultural production, adding that it would be extended to other parts of the country.
He said the government had allocated Rs230 billion for agricultural loans during year 2008-09 and added that the government wanted to ensure timely distribution of all types of fertilizers at responsible prices and subsidies are being provided to promote balanced use of fertilizers.
He said the government has set up a task force to closely monitor wheat grinding to check inter-mills trade and fair price shops have been established at factory gates to ensure cheaper supply of flour.
Gondal informed the House that no incentive has been provided by the government during last three years for seed production.
Regarding the outbreak of bird flu in the country, the minister said the measures were being taken in this regard including zero tolerance and stumping out policy for confirmed H5N1 cases, establishment of task force, steering committee and national contingency plan.
Besides this, he said the ministry had established 12 satellite laboratories across the country and 66 Rapid Response Units are also working to handle the outbreak and reporting to livestock departments and respective district health departments.
Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira said Bait-ul-Mall shall disburse Rs293.400 million to 97.800 households of Balochistan under Food Support Programme, adding that out of total allocation of Rs160 million, a budget of Rs11.20 million would be disbursed in Balochistan.
Earlier, the members expressed their concerns regarding the poor services of Pakistan Railways including unhygienic food at platforms, unclean atmosphere and dilapidated railway tracks and trains.
Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Noman Islam Sheikh stood the previous governments responsible for poor railway system.
He said the government had devised a new policy on Pakistan Railways, assuring the House that there would be a remarkable change in the system within next six months.
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http://thepost.com.pk/CorpNewsT.aspx?dtlid=179132&catid=8
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Associated Press of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD:
Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Nazar Mohammed Gondal Friday said the government would ensure availability of wheat at fair price during the holy month of Ramzan.
"We are well-equipped and have enough quantity of wheat to be provided at balanced price to facilitate the people in holy month," the minister told National Assembly in reply to a question.
He said an amount of about 15.4 billion was spent for agricultural development through Public Sector Development Programme during 2007-08 while an amount of Rs20 billion would be spent for the purpose during current year.
He said the ministry was executing a mega project "Crop Maximization Project-II" in 1020 villages of all four provinces to increase overall agricultural production, adding that it would be extended to other parts of the country.
He said the government had allocated Rs230 billion for agricultural loans during year 2008-09 and added that the government wanted to ensure timely distribution of all types of fertilizers at responsible prices and subsidies are being provided to promote balanced use of fertilizers.
He said the government has set up a task force to closely monitor wheat grinding to check inter-mills trade and fair price shops have been established at factory gates to ensure cheaper supply of flour.
Gondal informed the House that no incentive has been provided by the government during last three years for seed production.
Regarding the outbreak of bird flu in the country, the minister said the measures were being taken in this regard including zero tolerance and stumping out policy for confirmed H5N1 cases, establishment of task force, steering committee and national contingency plan.
Besides this, he said the ministry had established 12 satellite laboratories across the country and 66 Rapid Response Units are also working to handle the outbreak and reporting to livestock departments and respective district health departments.
Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira said Bait-ul-Mall shall disburse Rs293.400 million to 97.800 households of Balochistan under Food Support Programme, adding that out of total allocation of Rs160 million, a budget of Rs11.20 million would be disbursed in Balochistan.
Earlier, the members expressed their concerns regarding the poor services of Pakistan Railways including unhygienic food at platforms, unclean atmosphere and dilapidated railway tracks and trains.
Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Noman Islam Sheikh stood the previous governments responsible for poor railway system.
He said the government had devised a new policy on Pakistan Railways, assuring the House that there would be a remarkable change in the system within next six months.
-
http://thepost.com.pk/CorpNewsT.aspx?dtlid=179132&catid=8
-----