ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asserted the government’s commitment to transparency regarding those implicated in the wheat import scandal.
“We will ensure full disclosure to the nation,” PM Shehbaz stated during a meeting with Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, who heads the inquiry into the matter.
Instructing Afzal to ascertain accountability and notify the individuals responsible for the scandal, the prime minister directed the cabinet secretary to analyze available records and documents to prepare recommendations, with the final report due by Monday.
The prime minister’s remarks come amidst the federal government’s predicament following the Balochistan and Punjab governments’ inability to procure wheat from farmers due to surplus stock, largely attributed to excessive wheat imports.
The failure of provincial governments to purchase wheat has led to its sale at prices below the official rate, posing a significant concern for farmers.
Former caretaker Prime Minister Kakar, however, dismissed any involvement in the crisis, emphasizing that overseeing wheat production was not within the prime minister’s purview.
Regarding the wheat import decision, Kakar clarified that only 3.4 million metric tonnes of wheat were imported, whereas the shortage amounted to 4 million metric tonnes.
Sources informed Geo News that the Ministry of National Food Security briefed PM Shehbaz’s cabinet, stating that 28.18 million tonnes of wheat were produced last year, prompting the caretaker government to import an additional 2.45 million tonnes.
The premier was informed that the surplus wheat import incurred a loss of over Rs300 billion to the national exchequer.
In a separate meeting in Lahore, PM Shehbaz reiterated the government’s commitment to procure 1.8 million metric tonnes of wheat through the Pakistan Agricultural and Storage Services Corporation (Passco) to alleviate farmers’ economic woes.
Expressing concern over farmers’ difficulties, the PM emphasized no compromise on safeguarding growers’ economic interests and instructed officials to oversee wheat procurement personally.
Additionally, PM Shehbaz established a national food security committee to facilitate farmers in wheat procurement and address their concerns, with measures to be implemented within four days.
Addressing hindrances in the investigation, Secretary Afzal clarified to the prime minister that neither the caretaker PM nor Mohsin Naqvi, the former caretaker chief minister of Punjab, were summoned by the investigation team.
