‘Increase in official wheat price a political stunt’

[NiceFarmer]

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ncrease in official minimum purchase price of wheat is a political stunt of the federal government. Neither growers nor consumers are happy with the increase as it would further push food inflation upwards in the country.

No one is talking about increasing per acre yield of the wheat crop; rather they are just demanding the government either subsidise the agriculture sector or give the growers international price of their produce. The fact that the present local wheat price is higher than international prices is being ignored.

These views were expressed by the participants in the Jang Economic Session on ‘Increase in Minimum Purchase Price Wheat: Impact on Agriculture and Economy’. The participants were Pakistan Flour Mills Association Chairman Asim Raza, Farmer Associates of Pakistan (FAP) director Rabia Sultan, Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry ex-president SA Hameed, Agriculture Chamber Punjab president Nasir Cheema and agriculturist Ali Raza Gardezi. The event was hosted by Sikindar Hameed Lodhi and Intikhab Tariq.

Asim Raza said that the present wheat stock in the country was 10 million tonnes while the next season would start with surplus stock of 5.5 million tonnes. The federal government had fixed 19.2 million metric tonnes wheat production target, which was not a favorable for the country. He said India was ready to export wheat at $260 metric tonne, Russia at $165 metric tonne and Kazakhstan$110 metric tonnes while Pakistani wheat cost the government $350 metric tonne. He said the increase in wheat price would badly affect the food basket and push the rates of other grains and vegetables upwards.

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[Pioneerfirst]

who cares about poor in Pakistan,
expensive inputs = expensive output

 

[The HBS Guy]

All the more reason why GoP should allow Indian goods into Pakistan.

Indian medicines will make a great difference to the lives of common Pakistanis who have to currently pay through their nose for the expensive Pakistani medicines which not many can afford to buy.

Why should a common Pakistani patient have to pay for the incompetence of the Pakistani pharmaceutical industry with his life?

 

[Pioneerfirst]

There will be almost no advantage to Pakistanis by importing medicines from India.One reason is the currency rates.GoP has applied GST on medicines made in Pakistan and Indian imported will have to be GST so best option for poor is to slash GST on medicines.

 

[NiceFarmer]

Only big farmers like gilani himself would get benefit

 

[The HBS Guy]

There will be almost no advantage to Pakistanis by importing medicines from India.One reason is the currency rates.GoP has applied GST on medicines made in Pakistan and Indian imported will have to be GST so best option for poor is to slash GST on medicines.

There's still going to be a significant difference in the pricing of Indian and Pakistani medicines.