Top food officials suspended in Khanewal wheat scandal

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has suspended District Food Controller (DFC) along with six staff members, while the food department's director general and secretary have also been removed from their posts in a wheat scam.

Sources said the inquiry team examined records and collected samples from multiple food centres, uncovering large-scale irregularities.

Several hundred thousand maunds of wheat were allegedly turned "black," with reserves worth millions of rupees disappearing.

Significant wheat stocks were also reported to have been swept away during the recent floods. These findings have been added to the charge sheet against the DFC Sufyan Asif Awan and his team.

At an emergency press conference, Punjab's Information Minister admitted that the food department bore direct responsibility for the massive losses.

He acknowledged that repeated reports published earlier had flagged corruption within the department, particularly in Khanewal, where officials were accused of diverting public resources. Despite warnings, higher authorities had failed to take timely action.