'New wheat procurement policy to safeguard farmers'

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that the Sindh government's new wheat procurement policy has been formulated in line with its broader governance vision. The primary objective of this policy is to safeguard the interests of farmers. He said the decision to procure one million tons of wheat has been taken to ensure food security and to keep flour prices under control. According to the minister, wheat procurement will begin on April 1 at 109 centres across the province, with the support price set at Rs3,500 per maund. Sharjeel added that, for the first time, wheat would be purchased exclusively from registered Hari Card holders to eliminate the role of middlemen. This initiative is expected to directly benefit genuine farmers, with approximately 330,000 growers taking benefit of the scheme. He further stated, this year the government will not provide gunny bags (bardana). Instead, farmers will bring their own bags and will be paid Rs60 per bag directly into their bank accounts through designated bank. This new mechanism will not only simplify the procurement process but also make it more transparent, efficient, and secure against potential fraud.