Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sacked senior PASSCO officials over negligence in wheat procurement while ordering third-party audit of stocks being held by the Corporation, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Shehbaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned to use technology to make the wheat procurement process clean and transparent.

Chairing a meeting regarding wheat stocks in Lahore on Monday, the prime minister said a mobile phone application should be developed in this regard. 

Shehbaz Sharif ordered the suspension of the Managing Director and the General Manager Procurement of Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) for not following the instructions regarding the use of technology in the wheat procurement process and for being negligent in this regard.

Shehbaz Sharif directed to conduct a third-party audit of PASSCO's wheat stocks, saying insurance of crops should be ensured for economic security of farmers.

The Prime Minister directed PASSCO to procure 400,000 metric tons of additional wheat in a transparent and efficient manner.  Farmers' loss will not be tolerated under any circumstances, he declared.

Shehbaz said good performing PASSCO centres and officers will be selected and recognized at government level. He said the government is taking every possible step to ensure food security in the country and that all-out measures will be taken for the prosperity of farmers.

Reporter Awais Kiyani