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WFP discussing wheat transit with Pak.
By Gargi Parsai
NEW DELHI, JAN. 22. The World Food Programme (WFP) may just yet ease the problem of transportation of Afghan-bound Indian foodgrains through Pakistan. The U.N. food agency was in touch with the Pakistan Government and was hopeful of working out an arrangement, the Acting Country Director for WFP here, Wolfgang Herbinger, told The Hindu today.
There is all-round surprise at the bogey raised by Pakistan on the quality of Indian wheat due to which Islamabad has refused to allow passage to Kabul. It is not just that wheat meant for Afghanistan has not even been identified, even the contract on modalities between the Indian Government and the WFP is not formalised yet.
The WFP had requested the Indian Government to bear the transportation cost of the first consignment, and the Finance Ministry was considering the proposal. For the subsequent transfers, the WFP was likely to find other donors.
Confirming that no wheat had left the Indian shores so far, Mr. Herbinger said the first instalment of 15,000 tonnes vitamin and mineral fortified wheat flour might have to be shipped to Afghanistan via Iran. Although the costing had not been worked out in detail yet, shipping through Iran would double the cost of freight. Earlier, wheat was to be moved from Punjab to Kabul via Pakistan by rail at an estimated cost of approximately $20 to $30 per tonne.
Indian cereals will form one-third of the food basket donation for Afghanistan. Other donors will be the United States, Japan, Canada and some European countries. India has pledged to donate 10 lakh (one million) tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan over five years. It will provide 50,000 tonnes during the current fiscal either as wheat or as fortified flour.
Under the agreement, India will provide fungus-free quality wheat. An international surveillance company will check the quality specifications at the godowns.
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