SFA orders crackdown on wheat hoarders

Directs officials to take action against out-of-province wheat transport

KARACHI: The Sindh Food Authority (SFA) ordered on Tuesday strict action against persons involved in hoarding and transport of wheat out of the province.

According to a letter sent to relevant authorities in this regard, food deputy directors and district food controllers have been directed to liaise with district administrations across the province to take stringent action against the hoarding and out-of-province transportation of wheat, under the West Pakistan Food Stuff (Control) Act, 1958.

In the letter, the SFA states that wheat prices have been increasing as a result of hoarding and out-of-province transport of wheat. Therefore, the Sindh government has given the authority to deputy commissioners, deputy food directors and district food controllers to take action against the practices, so as to prevent price hikes and wheat shortages in the province. The SFA has directed relevant officials to ensure that functional flour mills are allowed to keep their approved stock of wheat for only 90 days, as per their grinding capacity, according to Sindh cabinet's decisions.

While food deputy directors and district food controllers have been directed to stay in touch with the district administration and ensure the provision of information and documentation required for operations, it has also been clarified in the letter that the wheat seized during operations by the SFA and district administrations will be considered as purchased and will be shifted to Sindh government warehouses. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2020.