KP probes corruption in wheat procurement

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Anti-Corruption Department has launched a probe into alleged irregularities in wheat procurement from farmers in Punjab after allegations of corruption surfaced.

Sources told Geo News that complaints of irregularities at the lower level were received during wheat procurement in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Haripur, Mansehra, and Nowshera.

There were reports that in some cases wheat was allegedly purchased from preferred individuals and deserving farmers were ignored. KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry will be asked to take action against the officials found involved in the irregularities once the Anti-Corruption Department completes the investigation.

It is worth mentioning that the KP Food Department procured 280,000 metric tons of wheat from farmers in Punjab and KP at a rate of Rs 3,900 per 40 kg in June, last year.

When contacted, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Accountability Committee member Qazi Anwar confirmed that complaints of alleged corruption in wheat procurement were received. He said the committee had prepared a questionnaire in light of these complaints.

The senior PTI leader added that the food minister, secretary, or relevant officials had not yet been summoned over the complaints.

“The matter of summoning them will be discussed in the committee’s next meeting,” he added.