ALERT Sindh govt to construct modern grain storage

Karachi: The Government of Sindh has decided to construct modern grain storage facilities under public private partnership mode, initially of 250,00 MT grain storage, in five districts, Gohotki, Khairpur, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Karachi. In each district, the grain storage facility of 50,000MT will be set up.

In this regard, a high level meeting of Technical and Financial Evaluation Committee (TFEC) for Modern Grain Storage Facility Project was held the other day, under chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Development which was participated by Secretary food, Secretary Finance, Secretary Agriculture, Director General, PPP Unit, Director Food and other government official.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) briefed the participants on the important features of the project. The IFC informed that the people from private sector/investors will construct the grain storage facilities and will maintain and operate the facilities for 20 years period. The Government of Sindh will pay the concessionaire the service charges for the storage and handling of wheat. This will be multi grain storage facility, allowing other than wheat, the rice, maize, barley to be stored as well. The new system will benefit all stakeholders including farmers, government, millers and consumers. The consumers will therefore, get quality wheat at reasonable price.

The participants were also informed that the involvement of private sector will save considerable amount of public funds because investor will bring their investment in the project. Moreover, this public private partnership arrangement will ensure efficiency, transparency and accountability, thus on the one hand, this project shall provide quality service in the shape of fresh quality grant to people and on the other hand would stop pilferages etc.

The global environmental challenges especially in the wake of recent devastating floods in Pakistan have made the construction of modern grain storage facility indispensable to cater the fluctuating demands of grain/wheat. The meeting was informed by IFC consultants.

In the end, the TFEC unanimously approved the publication of EOI (Expression of Interest) for the construction of Modern Grain Storage Facility under PPP modality for developer’s solicitation in the month of February, 2012.