PM Shehbaz suspends four officers for wheat import scandal

As per estimates, around 60 million farmers have been affected by the unwanted wheat import of 3.612 million tonnes.

ISLAMABAD: The inquiry committee formed to probe the wheat import scandal has recommended action against four officers of the Federal Ministry of National Food Security & Research.

The inquiry committee has submitted its findings to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to sources, PM Shehbaz has approved action against four officers from the Federal Ministry of National Food Security including their suspension over poor planning and negligence as recommended by the committee.

The four officers of the Food Ministry include the ministry’s former secretary Muhammad Asif, former Plant Protection Director General AD Abid, Commissioner Dr Wasim, and Director Sohail.

However, the inquiry committee did not recommend action against any bigwigs of the caretaker government mentioned in inquiry committee’s report, 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.

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.

As per estimates, around 60 million farmers have been affected by the unwanted wheat import of 3.612 million tonnes.