Punjab will initiate a wheat procurement drive from April 1. For this purpose, the process of transparent distribution of gunny bags to the farmers has also been started while the target of the wheat procurement drive is fixed 3.5 to 5 million metric tons.

Moreover, the Food Department has also completed its preparations at wheat procurement centres.

Senior Minister for Food Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan said necessary steps including anti-corona SOPs will be ensured at the wheat procurement centres and maximum facilities will be provided to the farmers.

"No queue, no wait" policy will be followed for the supply of gunny bags to the farmers at the procurement centres, he said.

Aleem Khan said that after an increase of Rs. 400 in the official price of wheat now the crop will be purchased at Rs.1800 per maund which is, indeed, good news for the farmers.

This year farmers have, again, been exempted from the compulsion of "fard" and other land-related documents for the purchase of gunny bags, he said adding that farmers will get it in abundance based on "first-come, first-served."