- The government will suspend four senior officials for poor planning and negligence.
- The center approves the action against former secretary of food safety.
- Premier calls today high-level meeting on wheat issue.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday approved action against officials responsible for poor planning and negligence. Geographic news reported citing sources.
Since the government has decided to suspend four officials from the Ministry of National Food Security, no recommendations have been made against the interim organization or any of its key officials, the sources added.
It may be noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz constituted an inquiry committee headed by Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal to probe the import of wheat last year despite a “bumpy harvest”, which has led to a glut. wheat stocks that have left the governments of Balochistan and Punjab unable to purchase the crop from farmers.
Earlier this month, the prime minister had ordered Afzal to determine responsibility and inform the individuals responsible for the scandal and directed the cabinet secretary to make recommendations using available records and documents.
The surplus stock has so far been attributed to the decision of the caretaker government, headed by former caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, which allowed the import of 2,758,226,226 metric tonnes of wheat worth 225.783 million rupees until February 2024.
However, Kakar, although he denies the version, has maintained that only 3.4 million metric tons of said crop were imported; while the shortage was four million metric tons.
Sources said Geographic news that the Ministry of National Food Security had informed Prime Minister Shehbaz's cabinet that 28.18 million tonnes of wheat was produced last year and the caretaker government decided to import 2.45 million tonnes more.
The government, according to details, gave its nod for appropriate action to be taken against former federal secretary national food security Muhammad Asif, a grade 21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service who was earlier posted as OSD.
Meanwhile, officials to be suspended include former plant protection director general AD Abid, food safety commissioner Dr Wasim and director Sohail, and Punjab food safety director Imtiaz Gopang.
PM Shehbaz calls for high-level meeting
Additionally, Prime Minister Shehbaz has today called a high-level meeting which will be attended by Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer, relevant officials of Pakistan Agriculture and Warehousing Services Corporation (Passco) and food security department.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister will be informed about the procurement of wheat keeping in mind the procurement target set by him.
The meeting will also discuss various issues faced by farmers and what relevant measures have been taken so far to address them.
