950830

Body to probe

wheat stock

situation in

Sindh godowns

KARACHI: Sindh Food Minister Syed Mohsin Shah Bukhari has constituted an inquiry committee to probe into the insufficient wheat stocks in government godowns and its transportation to Karachi and Hyderabad, it was officially stated here on Wednesday.

The Minister appointed a vigilance officer of Food Department as the Committee's enquiry officer with immediate effect and directed him to submit the findings within 15 days.

The committee will probe into the slow transportation of wheat to these cities, lack of wheat stocks in government godowns, their reasons and fix the responsibility of negligence on the concerned officials who brought bad name to the government.

It may be noted that the Minister had directed the Food officials two months ago to store sufficient quantity of wheat in government godowns and ensure its speedy transportation to these cities to avoid any shortage of atta and consequent increase in its price.

The Provincial Minister directed food officials to ensure a regular supply of wheat to flour mills so that atta (flour) price should not increase in the market.

He also warned the flour mills that the government will take strict action against the flour mills, including the discontinuation of wheat supply to them if they tried to create artificial shortage of atta or increase its price.

Mohsin Shah said he will conduct surprise visit of markets and flour mills to monitor atta prices and wheat stocks.

He said the government had taken immediate measures to transport 3000 tons of wheat daily from Pasco Punjab to Karachi to ensure availability of sufficient wheat here.

Food officials will supervise the transportation of wheat from Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Bahawalpur to Karachi.

He said disciplinary action will be taken against the food officials and contractors who failed in compliance.-APP