ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) is ensuring supply of wheat at affordable price, said a press release issued on Monday.

In order to ensure food security in the country, this ministry is mandated to arrange the requisite supply of wheat within the country, it said.

The PASSCO, an attached organization of th ministry is working continuously to supply wheat to wheat deficit areas.

The stock of public sector is being audited during the end of season.

Provincial governments promulgated Anti-Hoarding Act to ensure their wheat procurement drive and to achieve their procurement targets.

This strategy of provinces not only restricted wheat/wheat seed movement but also created panic in the local market.

Resultantly, wheat price escalation was observed, even during the months of its procurement.

On the basis of production estimates of Provincial Crop Reporting Services, a gap of 1.411 million tonnes was identified between wheat availability and consumption.—PR