New Delhi (PTI): The UPA government may not lift ban on wheat exports despite record procurement as it wants to fulfil the Congress' election promise of providing foodgrain at Rs 3 per kg to the poorest of the poor.

The Commerce Ministry has been told not to notify the decision of the previous government to allow exports of wheat and wheat products after May 15, highly placed sources said.

The decision was taken in March by an Empowered Group of Ministers headed by Pranab Mukherjee.

After resuming the charge on May 25, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had said that the availability has to be assessed before taking any decision on lifting exports ban as the government has to fulfil the Congress party's promise to provide 25 kg of rice or wheat to poor families (BPL).

"I don't want to go in a hurry for lifting ban on export.

Because, if the government is going to take the responsibility to supply a particular quantity to everybody at a particular rate, first I will have to see my stock position," he said.

Mr. Pawar had said there is a need to keep more stocks for the proposed policy of compulsory distribution of foodgrain.

"The decision on lifting export needs careful deliberation," he had said, but added the government might consider allowing export of 'wheat products'.