‘No shortage of essential food items in Pakistan’: NFRCC

Islamabad (HRNW) There is no shortage of essential food items as wheat, rice , maize , potato and other essential food is sufficient in stock to cater for food security; Secretary Food briefs NFRCC chaired by Deputy Chairman Mr Ahsan Iqbal and co chaired by Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Akhter Nawaz and National Coordinator NFRCC Major General Muhammad Zafar Iqbal.
The forum was apprised on latest update of Met and flood situation. Secretry NF S&R presented a detail update regarding wheat stocks in the country and ensured that No shortage of wheat / rice / maize / sugar is expected in future as sufficient stocks are already available in country which remained secured during recent flooding.
Secretry Food Security and Research explained that there is no shortage of essential food items in country and the reports in this regard are false and baseless.
He explained that Pakistan’s Annual requirement of wheat is 30.5 Mn Tons whereas 2 Mn tons are Strategic Reserve however in present situation, 7.07 Mn tons including 2 Mn Tons for seeds are available in country which is approximately 153 days of stock which is sufficient enough after that new wheat production will be harvested. Moreover early procurement of seeds will be ensured for the next season.
The Forum was informed that Import of tomato and onion on fast track is in progress. The only problem being faced is damage to communication infrastructure due to which disrupted transportation of various commodities in flood affected areas