LAHORE: The federal government has constituted a special team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate into the prevailing wheat crisis across the country.
The FIA’s deputy director will head the team to determine the responsible persons who have caused the crisis, and the role played by the government officials in the matter.
Importantly, the team will inquire about the amount of wheat bought by the mill owners and the amount of wheat flour produced by those mills.
According to sources, a report carrying recommendation(s) to end the wheat crisis will also be sent to higher officials.
A report will also be prepared on the total production of wheat, the surplus amount, and a list of individuals who purchased the commodity from the open market.
Punjab government sends flour bags to Azma Bukhari’s home
Meanwhile, the Punjab government sent flour bags to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab information secretary Azma Bukhari’s home.
Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Chairman Umar Tanveer said the PML-N leader had requested to send flour to her house if there is no shortage. Azma Bukhari said she had been sending her cook for three days to buy flour but could not get it at Rs 790 per 20 kilograms, Umar Tanveer remarked.
The PFA chairman said we have respected Azma Bukhari’s wish and sent a truck of flour sacks to her house.
Let it be known that Punjab ministers had on Tuesday claimed that there is not any flour crisis in the province while addressing a press conference in Lahore.
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan said that there is no shortage of wheat across the province, adding that due to negligence of Sindh government, people of Sindh province are facing shortage of wheat.
Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the PML-N provided an additional Rs9 billion subsidies during its tenure, while the PTI government saved Rs7 billion.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Food Minister Samiullah Chaudhary said 482 sale points have been established across the province for the provision of flour to people.
He said that 20 kg flour bag is available in market at 790 rupees. The provincial minister reiterated the government’s resolve to defeat hoarders and profiteers.
‘How did wheat crisis arise?’: LHC summons Punjab govt officials
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the federal and provincial authorities on a petition challenging a recent hike in prices of wheat flour.
A bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Mamoon Rasheed Shaikh, was hearing the case.
The court directed the official respondents to submit their comments on the petition that assailed a recent increase in prices of wheat flour.
It directed the Punjab additional chief secretary and the food secretary to appear before it in person.
The bench instructed the authorities to spell out how did the wheat crisis arise and who was behind it.
Earlier, on Jan 20, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved import of 300,000 tons of wheat to cater to wheat shortage in the country. The approval came at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh in Islamabad.
The Economic Coordination Committee was informed that the first shipment of wheat is likely to arrive in the country by 15th of next month.
The ECC asked Punjab and PASSCO to release their stocks to overcome the shortage in the country. The wheat can be imported till March 31.
