PM Imran Khan forms body to probe wheat crisis

ISLAMABAD: Taking strict notice of the recent wheat/flour related controversy, Prime Minister Imran Khan has constituted a high-level committee with representation from FIA and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to probe the ‘crisis’.

The proposed committee will identify and fix responsibility, if any, on any individual/officer/organisation, including any purported benefit to a private party, besides suggesting a way forward for future course of action.

The committee comprises of director general of the Federal Investigation

Authority, as its convener, representative of the Intelligence Bureau not below BS-20/21 and director general Anti Corruption Punjab, as its members. The Convener may co-opt any other member(s).

According to directions issued by Prime Minister Office, the inquiry report shall, inter alia, include identification of causes; circumstances leading to the wheat/flour related controversy; assessment/projection of future stock leading to allowing export of wheat/wheat products and subsequent imposition of ban on exports; management of wheat stocks, within the federal government and provinces, and coordination with provinces, and any other issue, deemed appropriate, related to the wheat/flour related controversy.

The committee has been asked to complete the inquiry and report is to be submitted to the prime minister within a fortnight i.e. on February 06, 2020.

Earlier Tuesday, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar in the Senate denied there was any shortage of wheat in the country and blamed the issue on disruption in the supply chain. However, on the demand of opposition senators, the matter was referred to the relevant standing committee of the House.