ISLAMABAD, June 4: The government has missed the wheat procurement target of five million tons by 1.2 million tons, despite a ban on inter-provincial movement of the commodity which led to an increase in flour price in remote areas.

Official figures show that the government was able to procure only 3.8 million tons of wheat in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan by the end of May.

The provinces and the Pakistan Agriculture Supplies and Storage Corporation (Passco) are seldom able to increase procurement after May.

The government had banned the movement of wheat and flour without consulting the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (Minfal) -- which was against such restrictions -- to help Passco and the provincial governments meet the procurement target.

Sources said the ministry had advised the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet that the ban would lead to an increase in the price of flour in the NWFP, tribal areas and Balochistan and encourage speculators.

Now, the price of a 20kg flour bag has crossed Rs620 in the NWFP and tribal areas. In Shabqadar, Charsadda and some tribal agencies 20kg bags are reported to be selling at Rs650.

Rawalpindi and adjacent districts of Punjab, Balochistan and the Northern Areas are also facing a shortage of flour.

The ECC on Tuesday lifted the ban on the movement of flour to contain the surge in prices in remote areas. But sources in Minfal told Dawn that bringing down the price would take longer than expected.