Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved actions on Tuesday against officers responsible for poor planning and negligence. The government decided to suspend four officials from the Ministry of National Food Security, with no recommendations against key officials of the caretaker setup.
No recommendations were given against any key officials of the caretaker government.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz established a probe committee, led by Secretary Cabinet Division Kamran Ali Afzal, to investigate the import of wheat last year despite a “bumper crop,” which resulted in excess stock preventing Balochistan and Punjab governments from purchasing the crop from farmers.
Earlier this month, the premier directed Afzal to identify the individuals responsible for the scandal, with instructions to use available records and documents for recommendations.
The surplus stock has been attributed to the caretaker government, led by former caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, who permitted the import of 2,758,226 metric tonnes of wheat worth Rs225.783 billion until February 2024. Kakar denied this narrative, stating that only 3.4 million metric tonnes were imported, while the shortage was 4 million metric tonnes.
Sources informed Geo News that the Ministry of National Food Security reported to PM Shehbaz’s cabinet that 28.18 million tonnes of wheat were produced last year, and the caretaker government decided to import an additional 2.45 million tonnes.
The government has approved actions against former federal secretary of national food security Muhammad Asif, a Grade 21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service who was made OSD earlier. Additionally, former director general of plant protection AD Abid, Food Security Commissioner I Dr. Wasim, Director Sohail, and Punjab Director Food Security Imtiaz Gopang are to be suspended.
