Islamabad:

A panel of the National Assembly Thursday expressed its annoyance over the supply of incorrect statistics with regard to the production of crops in the country by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc).

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Food Safety ordered a study to identify the people responsible for providing incorrect information to it and those who accepted the Parc report.

A member of the committee, Rana Muhammad Hayat, noted that from a Murabba land – equivalent to 25 hectares – is 1,400 maund’s sugar cane produced in Pakistan.

“However, Parc officials claim that only 600 Maund’s sugar cane is produced from a Murabba. Parc officials are lying; this is a joke with the nation,” he said, adding that there should be an investigation against Parc on this case.

During the meeting, one of the members, Mna Mna Moin Watto, asked if the government had devised a policy to buy wheat from farmers.

The food secretary replied that a summary of wheat policy had been sent to the Prime Minister, who had set up a committee to work on wheat policy. This committee is currently working on recommendations regarding wheat policy.

He said no wheat will be imported from any country this year, and neither the federal government nor the provinces will acquire wheat this year. “The provinces currently have sufficient wheat reserves. There will be no wheat-related problems in the country this year. To improve wheat storage capacity, the private sector will be involved,” he added.

Watto noted that in this case the government must ensure that farmers are free to sell their wheat to whom they choose. “If wheat or potatoes are transported to other provinces, let it happen,” he said.