The wheat scandal, which has become a terrifying nightmare for the masses, is replete with shocking revelations.
In a bid to procure wheat officially, Tariq Bashir Cheema, the Minister for Food Security in the PTI government, approved a summary to import 1 million tons of wheat, but this was later delayed by the ECC on August 8.
In an unexpected move, Anwarul Haq Kakar, the PM’s Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs, as well as the Minister for Food Security, consented to the summary sent by the Finance Ministry, advocating for the inclusion of the private sector alongside the government in wheat procurement.
The Finance Ministry opposed the official import of wheat and supported bringing wheat through the private sector.
According to documents, the ECC approved the summary to import wheat officially on November 1, but no bids were placed on the two tenders issued by the TCP.
Despite the approval to import 1 million tons of wheat, it remains unclear how a tender for 1.1 million tons was awarded.
During a meeting of the Wheat Board on December 19, wheat procurement was increased to 2.4 million tons. The ECC had not approved this decision, yet it was revealed during the meeting that 1.2 million tons of wheat had already arrived on 24 ships, contrary to ECC’s approval on February 1.
Documents reveal that recommendations were made during the February 14 meeting of the Wheat Board to extend the procurement deadline to March 31.
Approval was granted on February 23 to extend this deadline, citing the need to import an additional 1.5 million tons of wheat. During this meeting, reference was also made to meetings with wheat-related associations on February 19 and the list provided by them.
The saga doesn’t end here. The current Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif took oath on March 4, yet wheat continued to be imported into the country for a full month.
A meeting of the Wheat Board was held on March 26 under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister, during which instead of disclosing the reasons for wheat import, permission was granted for the checking of ships bringing wheat. It was stated that the list provided by the associations was disregarded.
The wheat import scandal has begun to implicate current rulers. Anwarul Haq Kakar, while serving as the Minister for Food during the tenure of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, was revealed to be involved in wheat procurement.
According to documents, during the current government’s tenure until March of the current fiscal year, wheat worth Rs. 283 billion was imported. At that time, when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself was leading the Ministry for Food.
whereas during the caretaker government, 2,758,226 metric tons of wheat were procured.
According to documents, wheat worth Rs. 57 billion, 19 crore, and 20 lakh was procured in March 2024, whereas wheat worth Rs. 225 billion, 78 crore, and 30 lakh was imported until February.
According to documents, a total of 3,449,436 metric tons of wheat was procured until March of the current fiscal year, resulting in wheat worth Rs. 282 billion, 97 crore, and 50 lakh being procured by March.
The astonishing fact is that the same group and individuals implicated in the wheat scandal are now investigating wheat procurement. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has been briefed on the initial details of wheat procurement investigations. The Cabinet Division Secretary, Secretary Food, informed the Prime Minister about the initial investigations.
According to a report, from August 2023 to March 2024, wheat worth Rs. 330 billion was procured, and 1.3 million metric tons of wheat contained worms. The PDIM government had deferred a decision on wheat procurement in July 2023.
During the caretaker government, 2.5 billion rupees’ worth of wheat was procured, with 2.758 million metric tons of wheat reaching Pakistan. Overall, over one billion dollars were spent on wheat procurement.
Wheat was imported from six countries on 70 ships.
On the other hand, former caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has said that they are ready to appear before the wheat investigation committee. In an interview, Anwarul Haq Kakar said that if they were summoned by the wheat investigation committee, they would definitely go. Their government did not enact any new law to procure wheat.
He blamed the PTI government for allowing wheat procurement through the private sector, a decision made by the SRP PTI government. Former caretaker Prime Minister said that the SRP PTI government had been in place for two years and 16 months in the PDIM government and today’s government.
Describing the wheat procurement issue as a “storm in a teacup,” Anwarul Haq Kakar said that there is neither instability, nor crisis, nor corruption in the matter.
He said that the ECC had discussed the need for 30 to 40 million tons of wheat and decided that instead of the government treasury, this wheat should be procured through the private sector, with 60 companies importing this wheat.
The former caretaker Prime Minister said that the talk of 400 billion wheat is like Inspector Jamshed’s story; if a committee is formed, they will appear before it.
He said that it is not the government’s job to bind the private sector; the government had stopped procuring wheat from the government treasury. Wheat orders are usually fulfilled within a few days.
Along with the federal government, the Punjab government is also involved in the wheat scandal. The Punjab government’s identification of wheat imports was delayed.
According to the sources the Punjab Food Secretary had raised objections to wheat imports six days before the last ship arrived on March 31.
However, the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is entirely different till now related to wheat & farmers. The government has decided to purchase wheat worth 29 billion rupees from farmers.
