Inquiry reports on wheat, sugar crisis made public

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered the release of the report formed after a high-level inquiry in the wheat flour and sugar crisis that struck the nation earlier this year in January.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general Wajid Zia lead a commission that carried out the investigation and submitted the report to the prime minister upon completion for perusal. The prime minister went through the report and directed the federal government that it should be made public.

The report identifies those responsible for the crisis including influential political figures associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and allies. They are accused of creating an artificial crisis in the country at the behest of political patronage.

The report reveals PTI stalwart Jahangir Khan Tareen, a brother of Food Minister Khusro Bakhtiyar, and PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi among the beneficiaries of the crisis. It said the major reason behind the crises was a lack of planning by the federal and provincial governments.

The report adds that the Punjab Food Department attempted to maintain sufficient wheat stock in the province but failed to identify the demand and supply mechanism leading to a shortage. It added that the department did not take timely decisions to address the situation.

The report further said the enquiry commission could not fix the responsibility for the wheat crisis on any individual in Sindh as the provincial cabinet did not take any decision regarding wheat procurement. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Qalandar Lodhi, secretary Akbar Khan and food director Sadat Hussain were held responsible for the crisis in the province.