Punjab food minister quits

LAHORE: Punjab Food Minister Samiullah Chaudhry tendered his resignation on Monday over alleged inaction on food industry related reforms.

In his resignation, Chaudhry said he quit after meeting Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar. In the letter, the provincial food minister said he faced allegation that he could not bring reforms in the department, adding until the clearance of accusations he would not hold any government office.

“I am willing to sacrifice thousands of such ministries for completing the agenda of Imran Khan,” he wrote. Calling the allegations baseless, the provincial minister said he was voluntarily stepping back. The letter said the minister was willing to present himself for accountability at every forum.

In another development, Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Naseem Sadiq, who had served as food secretary Punjab in 2019, had been made Officer on Special Duty (OSD). While Director Food Authority Punjab Zafar Iqbal had also been made OSD, media reported.