Responding to growing concerns regarding the wheat import scandal, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has mandated a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter.
The directive came after a meeting between Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, head of the investigation committee, and Prime Minister Sharif on Friday night.
Sources revealed that during the meeting, PM Sharif stressed the importance of conducting a comprehensive examination of all aspects of the wheat import, ensuring absolute transparency.
He emphasized the need to identify and hold accountable all parties involved in the scandal, with no tolerance for secrecy or leniency.
Additionally, the prime minister instructed the investigation team to thoroughly review available records and documents and provide recommendations based on their findings.
He directed the secretary to submit the final report by Monday.
“No concessions will be granted to anyone involved,” Sharif reiterated, stressing the importance of clearly identifying responsible individuals and urging their full cooperation with the investigation.
Meanwhile, the delay in wheat procurement has further worsened the situation for local farmers in Punjab, particularly in Rajanpur.
Farmers, who had invested heavily in fertilizers for wheat cultivation, find themselves unable to sell their produce to the government due to procurement delays.
With crops exposed to the elements and rains, farmers are compelled to sell wheat at significantly reduced prices, adding to their financial hardships.
“If the government fails to purchase wheat this year, farmers will refrain from cultivating wheat next year,” warned farmers in Rajanpur.
The Punjab government has yet to establish a definitive procedure for wheat procurement from farmers.
Despite a bumper wheat crop, farmers across Punjab, from southern districts to central tehsils and northern areas, remain anxious about the wheat purchase policy.
While the Punjab government set the wheat rate at Rs3,900 per maund (100kg), farmers have not received the necessary gunny bags (bardana), and wheat procurement has not commenced.
For weeks, farmers have been selling their hard-earned wheat crop in the market at lower prices.
