BAHAWALPUR, April 6: Despite the impact of inclement weather, the local cultivators are confident to procure 20 to 35 maunds of wheat per acre. According to lumbardar Muhammad Ahmad, of Bahawalpur tehsil, abrupt increase in temperature has affected the nourishment of wheat grain, but it is not shrivelled as was expected.

At some places the grain was damaged but most of the crop was healthy, said landlord Sheikh Muhammad Azhar, who expressed his satisfaction over the wheat crop. He added that the growers were satisfied because they were expecting an adequate yield if not the bumper.

Those farmers, who used balanced fertilizers, could get over 35 maunds of wheat per acre, he believed. EDO (agriculture) Chaudhry Ali Muhammad told Dawn that the target of 754,000 tons of wheat from the cultivated area of 665,000 acres in the district would be easily achieved. He dispelled the impression that the wheat grain was shrivelled.

The deputy director (food), Abdul Qayyum Lashari, claimed that the department would achieve the procurement target of 200,000 tons despite reports of shrivelled grain from some pockets of the district. However, he said, the department's field staff would have to make efforts to make the government campaign a success.

SERAIKI PROVINCE: The Pakistan Seraiki Party has once again demanded a separate province to safeguard the interests of the Seraiki and smaller units. The demand was voiced by PSP Central Joint Secretary Allama Iqbal Wasim at a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the party's 15th Founders Day on Tuesday.

He highlighted the deprivation of the people of the Seraiki-speaking areas and alleged that their due rights were being ignored by the federal and provincial governments. He said now the prime minister had realized the importance of new provinces for a better tomorrow.