ISLAMABAD, April 23: The government may import one million to 1.5 million tons of wheat to overcome a growing shortage of flour, a minister said on Wednesday.

“Pakistan will procure five million tons of wheat both locally and internationally to overcome its shortage,” Information Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters in Islamabad after a meeting of the federal cabinet.

She gave no further details of the import option.

“It was mismanagement by the previous government that triggered the wheat shortage,” she said.

Chaired by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, the cabinet was given a detailed briefing on the shortage.

Ms Rehman quoted Mr Gilani as saying that “food security is an important issue which needs a focused approach”. He said: “There is a dire need to improve wheat production, procurement and distribution”.—AFP

Our Staff Reporter adds: The meeting was informed by Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf that loadshedding in the country would be over in three years.

He said the present government had succeeded in bringing into the power system 310MW through conservation and the targeted 500MW would be achieved by the end of this month.He said that due to a shortfall of 33 per cent in supply, an eight-hour long loadshedding had to be distributed rationally between industrial and domestic consumers.

Ms Sherry Rehman said the cabinet observed with satisfaction that the process of national reconciliation was on track and negotiations were being carried out with all political forces, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

She said the cabinet had endorsed the Murree Declaration of the reinstatement of deposed judges.

In reply to a question, she said the National Assembly session had been extended and the resolution for the reinstatement of judges might be introduced in the current session.

Minister in-charge of food Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan informed the cabinet that he would hold a meeting with the chief ministers on Thursday to discuss the issue of flour shortage and measures to curb smuggling and hoarding of wheat and flour.

The cabinet asked the departments concerned to expedite the wheat procurement process. The secretaries committee was also asked to inform the cabinet how much wheat was required to be imported.

In his opening remarks, the prime minister said the cabinet meeting had been convened to review his 100-day action plan and assess the progress made in this connection.

The cabinet welcomed the resolutions unanimously adopted by the national and four provincial assemblies, seeking a UN-led investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

It approved the negotiations process with South Africa for cooperation in combating trafficking of narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals.

It also approved talks with Cuba for establishing a Pakistan-Cuba joint economic commission to enhance bilateral economic cooperation in industry, food and agriculture and education and technology sectors.