LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that rights of farmers will be protected and no one will be allowed to exploit them. He said provincial ministers should visit various districts to ensure that farmers are paid for their produce and also review arrangements for wheat procurement campaign and present a report to him. The chief minister said this while presiding over a high-level meeting regarding procurement of wheat, distribution of gunny bags and to review other arrangements before his departure to London, here Tuesday. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Nadeem Kamran Malik, Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretaries for Food, Agriculture, Finance departments and senior officers concerned were also present on this occasion. The CM said corruption would not be tolerated during the wheat procurement and if any government official was found involved in corruption, stern action would not be taken against him. He said he was also making field visits, like the previous year, for the welfare of the farmers and protection of their rights. He said provincial ministers had been given the task to monitor wheat procurement in various districts. He said DCOs would monitor wheat procurement and steps taken for the provision of facilities to farmers in their respective districts. He directed them to make all-out efforts for the welfare of cultivators. He said all possible facilities should be provided to the farmers at the wheat procurement centers so that the middle man could not exploit them and they did not face any hurdles in selling their produce. He said a farmer-friendly environment had been ensured at the wheat procurement centers and the Revenue Department staff was actively working in this regard. Earlier, Secretary Food, while giving briefing on the procurement of wheat in the province, said so far 7.5 lac tons wheat had been procured and 15 million gunny bags had been distributed among the farmers. He also told a comprehensive plan had been chalked out to monitor the wheat procurement campaign and close coordination among various departments had been ensured so that farmers did not face any problem. Hospitals directed to take care of gastro patients Secretary Health Punjab Fawad Hasan Fawad in view of the increasing temperature resulting in spreading Gastroenteritis and Diarrhea in children, has directed the administration of all the teaching hospitals to take all necessary measures for special care of such patients. While presiding over a departmental meeting Fawad Hasan directed the medical superintendents and incharge doctors of hospitals and rural health centers to take care of gastro patients especially the children. He also directed to ensure availability of ORS packets and other necessary medicines in all the health facilities. He directed the officers to remain in close contact with the administration of all the hospitals for ensuring these arrangements. He urged upon the doctors besides providing treatment to the patients they should also create awareness regarding preventive measures among the people to protect them selves from various diseases. Secretary directed all the EDOs (Health) to launch a campaign against substandard drinks and sale of adulterated food item to save the people from different diseases. The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Health Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Director General Health Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry, Additional Secretary Health (Tech) Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Sulehria, MS Mayo Hospital and other concerned officers.