Sukkur: Commissioner Sukkur, Abid Saleem Qureshi on Friday has directed the Food Department to complete the remaining 40, 000-bag wheat procurement target in Khairpur district within two days and to ensure a strong field presence to monitor progress.
He issued the directives while chairing a review meeting on wheat procurement at the Deputy Commissioner Office Khairpur.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Altaf Ahmed Chachar, ADC-I Riaz Ahmed Sheikh, ADC-II Abdul Hakim Dharejo, District Food Controller Mushtaq Sheikh, all Assistant Commissioners and other concerned officers.
Officials briefed the meeting on procurement progress, payments to growers, transportation of wheat stocks and issues faced by license holders and traders.
The Commissioner directed officers to ensure timely completion of assigned targets and ordered the District Food Controller to stay in Gambat for at least two days along with Assistant Commissioner Gambat to personally supervise procurement and resolve outstanding issues on the spot.
He noted that while targets in five talukas had largely been achieved, gaps remain in Gambat. He warned that no negligence or delay in achieving the target would be tolerated.
Reviewing complaints of harassment, Commissioner Qureshi directed the Food Department to avoid unnecessary interference in legitimate business and to ensure growers, traders and licensed dealers are not subjected to inconvenience.
He said licensed dealers should be allowed to operate within the quantity permitted under government policy, and action against genuine violations must be taken strictly in accordance with law, without discrimination between influential and non influential persons.
On payments to growers, the DFC informed that bills of more than 60 out of 103 growers have been prepared and sent to Karachi for processing, while processing of the remaining bills was delayed due to suspension of several inspectors and in-charges.
The Commissioner ordered removal of procedural hurdles and expeditious payment, stressing that growers who have supplied wheat must be paid without delay. He also took notice of growers’ concerns over the Rs. 3, 500 payment and additional transportation costs, and said the matter would be taken up with the Chief Secretary Sindh to provide maximum relief to growers.
The Commissioner directed officers to ensure transparent procurement, effective stock monitoring, timely payments and strict implementation of government wheat policy, with daily progress reviews and close coordination with the district administration
