A former interim cabinet member has shed light on the process of wheat import, stating that a summary for importing between five hundred thousand to one million tons of wheat was forwarded. Upon learning of this, the former minister expressed confidence in the country’s existing wheat reserves, deeming wheat import unnecessary and advising against it through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).
The matter was subsequently discussed in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), where it was suggested that the private sector should handle the import. The former minister clarified that approving the involvement of the private sector was not within their mandate but rather the decision of the ECC.
The former caretaker food security minister emphasized that they were not regularly included in ECC meetings and that their role was primarily advisory. Despite setting a deadline during a Wheat Board session for wheat shipments, the former minister expressed unawareness of any imports made beyond that date.
Regarding the wheat shortage, the former minister highlighted discrepancies between reported shortages and the quantity of wheat imported, attributing such discrepancies to a lack of communication and unilateral decision-making within government departments.
Furthermore, the former minister mentioned that the secretary of food security at the time of import, Captain (Retd) Mohammad Mehmood, was responsible for overseeing the process before their tenure. They reiterated that the approval for wheat import initially came from the cabinet, followed by the ECC, with key roles played by the ministries of finance and commerce.
In hindsight, the former minister suggested that better communication and coordination could have prevented potential oversights, such as an increase in the quantity of the import consignment. They also pointed out challenges within the Directorate of Plant Protection regarding permit issuance for import and export.
