ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established an inquiry committee to examine the import of wheat last year despite a significant harvest, on Thursday.
During a meeting on existing wheat stocks and further procurement, PM Shehbaz appointed Secretary Cabinet Division Kamran Ali Afzal to lead the investigation.
The prime minister questioned the wheat import in 2023 from the Ministry of National Food Security, asking, “Why was wheat imported despite abundant production?”
According to the PM’s media wing, he emphasized the need to promptly procure wheat from farmers, given the plentiful harvest this season.
He instructed, “Efforts must be made to purchase wheat, and farmers should receive timely compensation for their labor.”
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Muhammad Aurengzeb, Jam Kamal Khan, Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, and other senior officials.
Statistics show that a total of 3,449,436 metric tonnes of wheat worth Rs282.975 billion was imported during the caretaker government’s tenure and the Shehbaz-led government during the ongoing fiscal year till March.
The caretaker government permitted the import of 2,758,226 metric tonnes of wheat worth Rs225.783 billion till February 2024.
Under Shehbaz’s government, 691,136 metric tonnes of wheat worth Rs57.192 billion was imported in March alone.
Meanwhile, Shehbaz has relieved Federal Secretary National Food Security and Research Division Captain (R) Muhammad Asif of his duties due to the wheat import issue during the caretaker government.
Asif, a Grade 21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, has been placed on OSD (Officer on Special Duty) status.
Dr. Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan, a Grade 22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, has been appointed as the new federal secretary of the National Food Security and Research Division.
