LAHORE, July 12: In an effort to build the capacity of national institutions in handling and effective storage of wheat, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday donated 500 gunji kits (high density polyethylene stack packages) and 10 wheat grading machines to the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) and another 500 gunji kits to the Food Department.

In two separate memorandums of understanding (MoUs) already signed between the WFP, PASSCO and the Punjab Food Department in May this year, WFP Pakistan deputy country director Mageed Yahia handed over the equipment worth 643,510 dollars to Passco managing director Maj-Gen Sohail Shafkat.

While in a separate ceremony held at the S&GAD Civil Secretariat, WFP country director Jean-Luc Siblot handed over the equipment worth 436,500 dollars to Secretary (Food) Irfan Ali in the presence of other high officials.

Mageed Yahia said: “The WFP has been procuring wheat and rice locally for both national and regional requirements, and is therefore an interested stakeholder itself in the improvement of quality as well as proper storage of wheat in Pakistan.”

“It is important to strengthen the capacity of Passco for wheat storage nationwide and to obtain improved shelf-life and quality of surplus stored food,” he said.

LAHORE, July 12: Lahore Development Authority’s governing body on Thursday approved Rs39 billion budget for LDA and attached civic agencies, allocating more than Rs31 billion for projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP). The body at its meeting presided over by LDA