Wheat crisis: PM directs to suspend two PASSCO officers

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday directed to suspend two Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) officers for their negligence in purchasing wheat from farmers.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the wheat procurement program in which Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema and Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan participated.

Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Prime Minister's Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, and relevant senior government officials also attended the meeting.

The Prime Minister ordered the suspension of the Managing Director and General Manager Procurement of PASSCO for not following the instructions regarding the use of technology in the wheat procurement process and for being negligent.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister expressed his indignation that why a mobile application was not designed for the process of purchasing wheat. He urged to develop a mobile phone app for purchasing wheat and also directed to conduct a third-party audit of PASSCO’s stock.

Shehbaz Sharif directed that technology should be used to make the process of wheat purchase clean and transparent, insurance of the commodity should be ensured for the financial security of farmers. PASSCO should procure 0.4 million metric tonnes of additional wheat in a transparent and efficient manner.

Speaking to the participants of the meeting, the premier said that strong measures will be taken for the development and prosperity of farmers. The government is making all possible efforts to ensure food security in the country, the loss of farmers will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The prime minister further said that PASSCO centers and officers who are performing well will be selected and they will be recognized at the government level, vigorous measures will be taken for the development and prosperity of farmers.