PSQCA asked to devise strategy for ensuring quality of edible oil, ghee
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Federal Food Committee (FFC) has asked Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to devise a strategy for ensuring quality of edible oil and ghee in consultation with stakeholders.
“We have also asked PSQCA to provide list of food items to be included in mandatory list to ensure food quality”, Chairman FFC Lt General ® Farooq Ahmed Khan told media briefing here on Thursday. He said the issues of price and quality of ghee and cooking oil were also discussed with All Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (APVM) and APS&EA for ensuring price as well as quality of these commodities. Lt Gen ® Farooq Ahmed Khan said that the situation regarding flour availability and price had improved except a few areas of NWFP where its price was still Rs.18 per kg.
He said the current stock of wheat in the country was one million tonnes, which he added was sufficient to meet 30 days’ needs.
The daily allocation of 20,000 metric tonne imported wheat ex TCP for period February 26 to March 2 is as: Punjab 6,000, Sindh 4,500, NWFP, 5,000, AJK 1,000 and Utility Stores Corporation 3,500. He said in order to expedite upcountry transport of wheat it had been decided that imported wheat allocation tranche would stand cancelled in event of its non-lifting within 24 hours of intimation by TCP.
“The forfeited lot will be allotted to other provinces, against approved allocation”, he added. Chairman FFC said that wheat being released by Punjab to mills/chakkis was in excess of patent requirement and the provincial government had been asked to rationalize it forthwith to prevent public resources’ misapplication through hoarding, profiteering and smuggling.
He said a list of private buyers had been prepared from NWFP who had been authorised to carry 30 truckloads of flour from two mills of Islamabad on daily basis. For Southern districts of NWFP, Punjab would release 150 tonnes daily to mills in Bhakkar. Lt General ® Farooq Ahmed said that a ship carrying 75,000 tonnes of wheat was expected to arrive at Gawadar Port on March 9 and Ministry of Commerce and TCP had been asked to give priority to Sindh and Balochistan from this imported stock.