PESHAWAR, Oct 19 (APP):The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Department has increased the daily wheat release quota from 3,000 to 4,000 metric tonnes following a Peshawar High Court decision and directions from the Cabinet Oversight Committee.
The additional 1,000 metric tonnes will be supplied to operational flour mills from the National Reserve Centre (NRC) warehouses in Azakhel to ensure timely utilisation of stored wheat and prevent further losses.
According to a notification issued by the Food Department, the additional wheat quota will be distributed among all districts in proportion to the province’s population of 43.84 million.
The Director Food has issued necessary instructions to all district food controllers and rationing controllers to implement the revised allocation.
Under the revised arrangement, Peshawar will receive an additional 116 metric tonnes daily, followed by Mardan with 67 tonnes, Swabi with 46 tonnes, Charsadda with 45 tonnes, Nowshera with 43 tonnes and Lower Dir with 40 tonnes.
Other allocations include 39 tonnes for Lower Swat, 35 tonnes for Abbottabad, 44 tonnes for Mansehra, 45 tonnes for Dera Ismail Khan, 33 tonnes for Bannu, 32 tonnes for Bajaur and 30 tonnes for Kohat. The remaining quota has been distributed among other districts according to their respective allocations.
The department decided to release the additional wheat after a report by the Storage and Enforcement Officer at NRC Azakhel highlighted damage to stored stocks caused by recent flash flooding.
According to the report, floodwater entered the warehouses and affected the lower layers of wheat bags. Six of the centre’s 11 warehouses sustained damage, while the remaining five stayed safe.
The report recommended the immediate release of stocks to prevent further damage, particularly in view of forecast rainfall.
To ensure transparency, the Director Food has directed district food controllers and rationing controllers to submit verified lists of operational flour mills to the release committee before lifting wheat stocks. The move aims to maintain a proper record of wheat release and distribution.
The notification also makes it mandatory to update all records relating to wheat allocations, transportation and release on the ICT application without delay.
Relevant officials will ensure that government flour produced from the additional wheat reaches consumers through authorised dealers at officially notified prices.
The department has directed all concerned officials to strictly monitor district allocations, verify operational flour mills and ensure the sale of government flour at prescribed rates so that the benefit of the additional wheat supply reaches the public.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
