The wheat purchase target may be further increased to ensure a fair price to the growers, Rana Tanveer Hussain, the federal minister for industries, production and national food security and research, said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken strict notice of the unavailability of Bardana (gunny bags) to the growers despite clear instructions from the government to start a purchase drive, he said during his visit to the PASSCO Center near Faisalabad.

He assured that every grain would be lifted and the interest of the farmers would be fully safeguarded.

The Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation Limited (PASSCO) had been directed to adopt a comprehensive strategy to purchase maximum wheat from the growers in a free, fair and transparent manner. As many as 1,500 applications – out of the 88,000 received by the authority – were verified and the company started the procurement process, he added.

Tanveer said the PASSCO had established its procurement centres in 13 tehsils across Punjab where necessary facilities were provided for wheat growers and their apprehensions would be removed.

Pakistan had witnessed a bumper wheat crop this year despite harsh weather and climate change, the minister added.

“We are hopeful that current crop would not only cater to the domestic food requirements easily but we may also export its surplus,” he said and added that the government had also decided to provide fertiliser at cheaper rates so that the farmers could meet crop expenditures easily.

He also visited various sections of the PASSCO Center and directed the staff to deal with the growers “politely and purchase their wheat produce under free, fair and transparent manner” as no negligence or embezzlement would be tolerated.

PASSCO Managing Director Emad Nazir Ahmad briefed the minister about wheat procurement and said that the PASSCO was issuing Bardana (bags) after registering growers from 9am to 5pm daily.

He said that Bardana of eight bags was issued for one acre and one farmer could obtain a maximum of 100 bags. Bardana is being issued on a “first come, first served” basis after verification of registration and revenue record.

He said that growers could get Bardana after depositing Rs530 per bag as security through pay order, demand draft and call deposit while the centre would charge Rs40 from the growers as delivery charges per bag of 100 kg weight.