The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sukkur, had announced the recovery of wheat worth up to Rs10.612 billion.
As per the details, the recovery had been made both directly and indirectly by NAB, which was acting on several complaints regarding hoarding of wheat in Sindh province. DG NAB Sukkur had approved nine inquires against various officials of Sindh Food Department on account of their suspected involvement in intentional mismanagement of wheat stock.
The NAB probe covered Provisional Reserve Centers (PRCs) in nine districts, namely Sukkur, Larkana and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions, namely Sukkur, Larkana, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushehro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Kashmore, Kandhkot, Kamber and Shahdadkot.
NAB inquiry revealed that 164,797 million tonnes of wheat of worth up to Rs 5.355 billion were missing at different PRCs of these districts.
Furthermore, 22,044 million tons of wheat of worth Rs745.680 million did not reach Karachi due to the suspected involvement of officials from Sindh Food Department.
It has been reported that the accused individuals, including mill owners, have agreed to return Rs2.112 billion after opting for plea bargain under section 25(b) of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999.
Additionally, as of now, flourmill owners have paid Rs 8.126 billion, out of total default amount of Rs 9.750 billion.
It is pertinent to know that Sindh government has fixed the wheat procurement target at 1.4 million tonnes for this year and CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah had expressed his disappointment as so far only 40 per cent of the procurement has been done.
Earlier, on Friday, Sindh’s Food department had written to Interior Ministry to seal off its border with Balochistan under the Food Act, to stop the smuggling of wheat from the province.
