Committee to probe wheat import scandal: PM

ISLAMABAD: A committee is going to be formed to investigate a scandal involving the import of millions of tonnes of wheat from Ukraine by the caretaker government at a cost of over one billion dollars.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the constitution of a committee regarding to probe who ordered the import when the country had surplus stock of wheat.

A member of the National Assembly recently told the house that the ship carrying the wheat reached Pakistan eight days after the caretaker government approved its import. In routine, a ship takes over a month to reach Pakistan from Ukraine. 

The MNA said it meant order had already been placed for the wheat import and it is yet to be ascertained who had ordered it and why.

Because of the import of wheat, the government godowns are now full of the Ukrainian wheat and local farmers are protesting against non-purchase of their wheat by the food department.

The food department says that it neither needs more wheat nor it has the space to stock the wheat after purchasing it from local farmers.

He was chairing a high-level review meeting in Islamabad today regarding current status of wheat reserves.

The committee formed on the direction of the prime minister will be headed by the secretary Cabinet Division.

Prime Minister Sharif said that Pakistan had an abundant wheat harvest this year. He directed to take all necessary steps regarding the purchase of wheat. He said there should not be any delay in the procurement of wheat so the farmers can get reward for their hard work.