16 May 2011 - Senior Federal Minister PML Punjab President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi news about Wheat Crisis

Good Governance ?

Ex. Food Minister Hussain Jahaniyan Gardeezi News

Punjab govt can’t procure all wheat: Ch. Pervaiz Elahi

LAHORE: Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the central leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, has alleged that the Punjab government’s claims of procuring the last grain of wheat like its other policies and promises have hit the snag.

Pervaiz Elahi was talking to the media after chairing a meeting of the PML-Q farmer wings’ district presidents here on Monday. The farmers presented him the monitoring reports of their respective districts. Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheer, Raja Basharat, Husnian Bahadur Drashek, Arshad Khan Lodhi, Dr Fakhar Cheema and Mian Munir were also present.

Pervaiz alleged that the provincial government was hiding its inefficiency and failures by deceiving people and the media with the announcements regarding export of wheat. He claimed that there were long queues of farmers outside the wheat procurement centres and they were being given cheques of deducted amounts, which were not being cashed, alleging that the PML-N workers and leaders were minting money at the cost of farmers. He also alleged that the PML-N would provide wheat to flourmills at the rate of Rs 1,050 per maund and there was big question mark as on what rate flour would be available to people.

The PML-Q leader said the government had failed to control the situation and farmers, who had risked their entire amount for cultivating wheat, were moving to and fro for the sale of their produce. He claimed that the farmers had not faced such humiliation in the past and they were forced to sell their produce to the middlemen on Rs 800 and 850 per maund on one-two month credit. He ridiculed the governments’ claim of exporting wheat and stated that wheat was available in the international market at the rate of $ 225 per tonne while the rate of Pakistan’s wheat was $332.

Pervaiz alleged that the government was suspending officers just to hide its inefficiency while the issue could have been handled through good governance. He also distributed a letter from the food department, which had alleged that they had distributed 5,000 gunny bags among the PML-N legislators but they had neither returned neither the gunny bags nor wheat and the bags were available in the market at the rate of Rs 85 per bag.

The PML-Q leader said the CM had announced to turn 8-Club Road into an IT university for women but the place was occupied by his advisors and bullet-proof cars were being used for purchasing vegetables. He said there was a big question mark before the purchase of Roti at Rs 2.

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi News conference

Pervaiz Elahi terms wheat procurement drive a failure

LAHORE: PML-Q leader and former Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that wheat growers have been facing difficulties in selling their wheat and termed the wheat procurement drive a failure in the province.

Addressing a press conference after meeting Kissan Wing office holders of PML (Q) drawn from all over Punjab here Monday, he said the farmers have to wait for days to sell their wheat and miles long queues could be seen at the procurement centres.

He alleged that farmers were not being paid against the cheques issued by the government and the farmers were left at the mercy of the middlemen who were offering Rs.850/- per 40 kg wheat.

He was of the view that flour prices would go sky-high in the near future since the government has decided to provide wheat to the flourmills at Rs. 1050 per 40 kg.

He dispelled the notion that the government could export wheat adding the government's purchase cost was 326 dollars a ton while the wheat was being sold at 225 dollar per ton in the international market.

We Support the Army operation in Swat. Ch. Pervaiz Elahi

Chaudhry Zaheer-ud-Din News Statement 07/05/2009