Chandigarh, Apr 24 - Punjab government today asked the Centre to take an early call on allowing export of wheat to Pakistan and other CIS countries through the Integrated Check Post in Attari, saying the move would solve the "twin problems" of storage and extra production of the crop.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said an Empowered Group of Ministers, which will meet tomorrow to take a decision on allowing export of sugar and cotton, should also consider exporting wheat "as this year, Punjab and other wheat producing states are set to witness record production".

Urging the Centre to make optimum use of the recently inaugurated Integrated Check Post in Attari, Badal said export of wheat to Pakistan and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) would solve the "twin problems of storage and extra production".

"Besides, it would give remunerative price to hard working farmers of the country and help strengthen bilateral ties between India and Pakistan," he added.

Accusing the Centre of failing to mobilise the Railways to move last season's paddy stock from warehouses in the state, the minister said export of wheat was imperative for Punjab as it is facing a "severe shortage of space" to store the crop.

"We are hoping to cross the target of 115 lakh tones of wheat procurement this year. Around 1,750 purchase centres have been set up throughout the state, but despite all these measures we are facing a serious crunch in spaces to store the crops," Badal said. PTI