Inquiry committee holds four officers responsible for wheat import scandal
Pakistan
PM Shehbaz approves recommendations for action against delinquent food ministry officers
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The inquiry committee, established to investigate the wheat import scandal, has recommended action against four officers of the Federal Ministry of National Food Security & Research in its findings presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to sources, the premier has approved the recommendations of the committee which had been ordered to hold a thorough and transparent investigation into the wheat import scandal.
Not surprisingly, the inquiry committee did not recommend action against any of the important officers/officials of the caretaker set-up, nor did it find anyone responsible for the fatal mistake.
The PM had appointed Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Agha to lead the inquiry committee, amidst a great hue and cry over the government’s failure to initiate its wheat procurement drive.
Earlier this year, the caretakers had imported 3.612 million tonnes of wheat from Ukraine in anticipation of shortages. The action had led to a full-blown crisis in the country as the wheat crop harvesting season began, with farmers compelled to sell their crops well below the government-set support price of Rs3,900/40kg.
Former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar had stated that the matter of import of Rs400 billion worth of grain had been blown out of proportion. He had expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation committee if summoned, asserting that there had been no corruption involved.
As the wheat procurement drive did not kick off, farmers were compelled to take to the streets to protest against what they perceived as government indifference to their plight.
The four officers of the Federal Ministry of National Food Security & Research which the inquiry committee has held responsible for the crisis are ministry’s former secretary Muhammad Asif, former Plant Protection director general A.D Abid, Commissioner Dr Wasim and Director Sohail.
These retired and incumbent officers have been charged with poor planning and negligence.
In line with the recommendations of the inquiry committee, former secretary Muhammad Asif will face official action, while former Plant Protection director general A.D Abid, Food Security Commissioner Dr Wasim and Director Sohail will be placed under suspension.
As per estimates, around 60 million farmers have been affected through the unwanted wheat import of 3.612 million tonnes.
