LAHORE: Newly-inducted Abdul Aleem Khan on Tuesday was restored to his “status of senior minister” and given the portfolio of food.

A notification to the effect was issued here on Tuesday.

According to insiders, the major demand of Mr Khan was senior minister’s portfolio, which entitles him to occupy a part of Chief Minister Secretariat (90-Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam) and operate from there.

“He may be given other portfolios in coming weeks,” says an insider.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aleem Khan presided over the first briefing of the food department and directed that the target of 4.5 million ton wheat procurement should be met in any case.

He said that there should be no restriction on the inter-district transportation of wheat while the smuggling of the commodity should be stopped at all costs by sealing all provincial borders.

He said the process of releasing these wheat stocks should also be initiated so that there is no complaint of any shortage of flour in the market in any way.

Other provinces are also dependent on Punjab for wheat. An integrated policy on this issue should also be prepared and if necessary the legislation will be made in the Punjab Assembly. “There is some discrepancy between the government and market rates of wheat, which should be minimised so as to discourage hoarders and profiteers,” he said.

During the briefing, Secretary Food Waqas Ali Mehmood informed the minister that gunny bags (bardana) had been issued without any ‘discrimination’ and wheat procurement started, especially in Bahawalpur, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2020