By Asad Cheema
ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Monday formed a high-level inquiry committee tasked with delving into the matter of insect-infected wheat imported during the fiscal year 2023-24.
The three-member committee, headed by Food Commissioner Syed Waseemul Hasan will rigorously investigate the import of insect-infected wheat.
The minister said that the investigation will be conducted with utmost transparency and underscored the commitment to discerning accountability in the importation process of defective and substandard wheat.
On public complaint, the minister has also taken notice of the irregularities in the purchase of wheat by Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASCO) and formed a three-member committee headed by a Grade 20 officer Saleem Mohsin.
The committee will investigate public complaints and irregularities in the procurement of wheat by the corporation. The minister categorically cleared that the government will never tolerate any type of exploitation of the farmers and devise proper mechanisms to make the procurement process more transparent.
The minister directed the authorities concerns for taking all possible steps to ensure transparency in the wheat procurement process.
Rana Tanveer said that the farmers were the backbone of the national economy and their welfare and prosperity were interlinked with the growth and prosperity of the country.
