The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Food Department has increased its daily wheat release quota from 3,000 to 4,000 metric tonnes, a rise of 1,000 tonnes a day. The change to Food Department wheat release follows a Peshawar High Court decision and directions from the Cabinet Oversight Committee, according to a notification issued on October 19.
The department said the extra supply is meant to use stored wheat in time and prevent further losses. Stocks at the National Reserve Centre (NRC) in Azakhel had been exposed to flooding, so the release is also a response to that damage. Readers who followed the earlier warning can read our report on the Azakhel flood risk.
Flood damage at the Azakhel warehouses
A report by the Storage and Enforcement Officer at NRC Azakhel found that flash flooding had entered the warehouses and reached the lower layers of wheat bags. According to the report, six of the centre's 11 warehouses were damaged, while the remaining five stayed safe. It recommended the immediate release of stocks to prevent further damage, particularly with more rain forecast.
The department decided to supply the additional 1,000 metric tonnes to operational flour mills from the NRC warehouses. The aim is to make sure stored wheat is used before more of it is lost.
How the extra wheat is shared across districts
The notification says the additional quota will be divided among all districts in proportion to the province's population of 43.84 million. Peshawar will receive an extra 116 metric tonnes daily, followed by Mardan with 67 tonnes, Swabi with 46 tonnes, Charsadda with 45 tonnes and Nowshera with 43 tonnes. Lower Dir gets 40 tonnes, and other districts, including Dera Ismail Khan with 45 tonnes and Kohat with 30 tonnes, have their own set shares.
The Director Food has told district food controllers and rationing controllers to put the revised allocation into effect. The remaining quota has been distributed among other districts according to their allocations.
Checks on mills and the sale of government flour
Before wheat is lifted, district food controllers and rationing controllers must submit verified lists of operational flour mills to the release committee. All records on wheat allocations, transport and release must also be updated on the ICT application without delay. The department said this is meant to keep a clear record of how wheat is released and distributed.
Relevant officials have been told to make sure government flour made from the extra wheat reaches consumers through authorised dealers at officially notified prices. The Director Food has directed all concerned officials to monitor district allocations closely and verify the mills receiving wheat.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mein Food Department ne roz ki gandum release 3,000 tonnes se barha kar 4,000 metric tonnes kar di hai. Azakhel ke NRC godaamon mein sailab ke paani se kuch gandum kharab hua, is liye 1,000 tonnes ezafi gandum flour mills ko di jaa rahi hai. Peshawar ko sab se zyada, roz 116 tonnes ezafi hissa milega. Sarkari atta authorised dealers ke zariye muqarrar kardah rates par milna chahiye.
