Five questions for CM Punjab

PAT points at irregularities in wheat purchase

LAHORE: The President of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Dr. Raheeq Ahmed Abbasi has asked the Punjab CM five questions regarding the purchase of wheat from the farmers and said that the CM has failed to fulfill any of his promises made with the farmers of Punjab. He said the poor farmer has been forced into selling his crop at lower rates that the prescribed government rates only because he failed to get Gunny Bags that the CM had promised would be supplied to each and every farmer. He said the Food Department has distributed only 20 per cent of the Gunny Bags and this was done under a well thought plan to deprive the farmer of his earnings buying wheat at cheaper rates through the wheat mafia in the private sector. The questions he asked are 1: Last year the Gunny Bags distribution started on May 15 while the wheat sale begun on April 21. This year the sale began 15 days late on the pretext of bad weather. 2: The Secretary Food Punjab had admitted that the purchase of wheat was delayed due to mismanagement, and has the CM taken notice of this and has he ordered an inquiry. 3: It was announced that the distribution of Gunny Bags would begin on April 25, while actually it begun on April 29. Who is responsible for this criminal act and has the CM taken any notice of this crime. 4: The farmers of DG Khan, Bahawalpur and South Punjab have been standing in lines under the hot sun to get Gunny Bags but in vain as these were distributed to those who presented chits from MPs of the ruling party. Why is the government silent on this issue? 5: The farmers say that when they go to get Gunny Bags the Food department officials say that their names are wrongly printed in the lists, while the lists were prepared by the Revenue Department. Who is responsible for this blunder and has the CM taken any notice of this criminal act by the Revenue and Food departments. Dr. Raheeq Abbasi said that the Punjab government officials are carrying out accountability of the poor farmers on their own and anyone who raises his voice is subjected to police torture. He said the Punjab Government does not have any Food Policy and if it had than the department would not have come under the burden of Rs 210 billion and the poor farmer would not be so grieved so much as he is today.