Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the new wheat procurement policy of the Sindh government has been prepared in accordance with the broader government vision of the Sindh government.

He said that the aim of the new wheat procurement policy is to protect the interests of farmers, the decision to purchase one million metric tons of wheat was taken to ensure food security and keep flour prices under control.

In a statement regarding the wheat procurement policy, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that wheat procurement will start at 109 centers in the province from April 1.

The support price of wheat per maund has been fixed at Rs 3,500. To eliminate the role of middlemen, for the first time, wheat will be purchased only from registered Hari card holders. The maximum benefit of purchasing through Hari card will reach the real farmers, 330,000 farmers will be directly benefited.

He said that this year the government will not provide bardana, farmers will bring their own bags, Rs 60 for each bag will be paid directly to their bank accounts through Sindh Bank, the new procedure will not only make the procurement process easier but also more transparent, effective and safe from any possible fraud.

Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the government has 200,000 tons in stock and it will be used according to the public need, Sindh produces about 4.3 million tons of wheat annually, the current policy is designed to directly provide financial assistance to small farmers.

He said that under the Hari Card Scheme, farmers have benefited through subsidies on DAP and urea fertilizers, the aim of the new policy is to support farmers, ensure food security and provide flour at low prices to the public.