Millers refuse to buy 'contaminated' wheat

Despite Rs35m deposit, food dept officials have refused to supply wheat to the mills

RAWALPINDI:

The flour mills in the Rawalpindi district have submitted a formal complaint to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), protesting against the persistent pressure exerted by the Rawalpindi Food Department to forcibly purchase 32,000 allegedly foul-smelling sacks of wheat.

The mills have firmly refused to buy the wheat under any circumstances and have demanded that the wheat be inspected and laboratory tested at the Wheat Storage Centre in Rawalpindi.

Details suggest that last year, severe complaints were received from flour mills regarding the contamination of wheat stored in government warehouses in Rawalpindi, with reports of soil and water mixing with the wheat.

In response, the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Punjab chapter formally lodged a written complaint with the Secretary of the Punjab Food Department. Consequently, the Director of Food Punjab constituted an inquiry team, which confirmed the allegations upon visiting Rawalpindi. However, despite a year having passed, no responsible individuals have been identified or held accountable for the corruption involved.

Despite the Rawalpindi flour mills depositing over Rs35 million into the government treasury, officials posted at PR Centre 3 have refused to supply wheat to the mills. The mills have been told to either accept the wheat mixed with dirt, rotting, and foul-smelling, or wait for two months.

The mill owners argue that they haven't conducted business with any private company or individual but have followed the law by depositing the required amount in the government treasury. They assert that the wheat should have been delivered the same day the payment was made, in accordance with the law. If government departments continue to mistreat businesspeople, the question arises: who will do business in this country?

The staff posted at the PR Centre 3 in the federal capital was previously implicated and proven guilty of similar charges three years ago, resulting in some punishments. However, those officers were reinstated and reassigned to the same centre.

The ACE in Rawalpindi confirmed receiving the complaint from the flour mills and stated that action will be taken after the Eidul Fitr holidays. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Food, Ghulam Abbas, claims the wheat isn't spoiled or rotting, but only contains soil, which they are willing to sift and provide.