Probe reveals wheat imported when PM Shehbaz was running food security ministry

The wheat import probe takes a dramatic turn with surprising revelations that wheat was imported when Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif himself was holding the charge of the Ministry of National Food Security, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The inquiry committee was told that wheat was imported while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself was keeping charge of the Ministry of National Food Security during March 2023.

According to the official notification, the Prime Minister handed over the portfolio of National Food Security to Federal Minister Rana Tanveer on April 3.

Before that, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in charge of the Ministry for a month. It is pertinent to mention amid the initial probe the Prime Minister had made Secretary Food Muhammad Asif OSD on the charges of negligence and incompetence in the wheat import scandal.

According to official data, during the first month of the current government, 9,136 metric tonnes of wheat were imported while during the interim government, 2,758,226 metric tonnes of wheat was imported.

In March 2024, wheat worth over 57 billion was imported while till February of this financial year wheat worth over 225 billion rupees was imported.

According to government data, during the current year, till March, 3,449,436 metric tonnes of wheat was imported.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday formed an inquiry committee headed by the Secretary Cabinet Division to probe into the matter of wheat import in the country.

Chairing a high-level review meeting regarding the current status of wheat reserves in the country, the prime minister inquired from the Ministry of National Food Security about the import of wheat last year.

The prime minister questioned for what reason the decision to import wheat was taken despite the good production of the commodity last year.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani