PM forms body to probe into wheat import

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday formed an inquiry committee, headed by the Cabinet Division secretary, in connection with the import of wheat into the country.

The premier was chairing a meeting on the current status of wheat reserves in the country. During the huddle, PM Shehbaz asked the national food security and research ministry about why wheat was imported last year despite the production of a bumper crop.

The premier then formed a committee to investigate into the matter. PM Shehbaz observed that the country had produced a bumper crop of wheat this year as well.

He instructed that it must be ensured that there was no delay in the procurement of the wheat and every step was taken to make this possible.

The premier also stressed the need to ensure that the farmers at the earliest received their due share of profits for their hard work.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahad Cheema, Rana Tanveer, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Jam Kamal, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzaal and other high officials.

In a related development, making progress in the unnecessary wheat and expensive fertiliser procurement scandal during the caretaker government’s tenure, the national food security secretary was removed from his post on the instructions of PM Shehbaz.

Fakhar Alam, a grade 22 officer waiting for his posting in the Establishment Division was appointed the new national food security secretary.

The previous secretary, Mohammad Asif, was demoted to the rank of an officer on special duty (OSD).

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement released by the PM Office, expressed gratification over the recent downward trajectory of inflation.

He hailed it as a promising indicator of economic recovery, attributing this positive trend to the concerted efforts made during the 16-month tenure of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, which were further continued by the interim government.
He particularly anticipated potential benefits from the downward trend in international petroleum prices, urging provincial governments to ensure the transmission of these cost savings to the general public.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need to work together with Azerbaijan to enhance trade and investment, energy cooperation, defence, connectivity, education and cultural exchanges, and people to people contact.

The prime minister said that he intended to send a high level ministerial delegation to Baku to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Pakistan is also prepared to convene the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Joint Commission meeting at an early date where both sides could discuss matters related to cooperation in various fields, the prime minister said while talking to the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov who called on him.