PTI criticises govt’s wheat policy, demands forensic audit of stocks

ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday accused the government of mismanaging wheat supplies and demanded a forensic audit of official production and stock figures after authorities approved plans to import 1.1 million metric tonnes of wheat.

In a statement, the party questioned official claims of a bumper wheat harvest of more than 29 million tonnes against estimated domestic consumption of around 27 million tonnes, saying the decision to import wheat contradicted the government’s own production estimates.

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PTI said that with 4.1 million tonnes already held by the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) and other government agencies, authorities should explain what it described as the disappearance of 4.5 million tonnes of wheat.

The party alleged that farmers had been forced to sell their crop below production costs because the government failed to enforce the minimum support price, while consumers were now paying higher prices for flour and bread.

PTI called for a forensic audit of wheat stocks, the declaration of an agricultural emergency, the cancellation of what it termed unnecessary wheat imports and an early announcement of the minimum support price for the next wheat crop.

The party also criticised the Pakistan People’s Party-led (PPP) Sindh government over the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) results announced by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), alleging irregularities in the recruitment process.

It expressed support for protesters outside the SPSC office in Hyderabad and demanded cancellation of the results, independent forensic audits of the CCE and engineering cadre examinations, and a judicial inquiry into the recruitment process.

PTI also criticised the Punjab government’s handling of recent monsoon rains, saying flooding had exposed shortcomings in urban infrastructure despite official claims of improved preparedness.

The party called for an audit of expenditure on the provincial government’s “Stable Punjab” campaign and action against officials responsible for flood management.

On the forthcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), PTI accused the ruling coalition of using public resources for electioneering.

The party alleged that the deployment of 10 electric buses displaying images of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, together with campaign pledges by ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, amounted to electoral inducement.

It urged the AJK Election Commission to investigate the matter and take action against those responsible.

PTI also renewed criticism of the detention conditions of its founder, saying he had spent 1,085 days in custody, including 264 days in ‘solitary confinement’.

The party alleged he was being denied adequate medical care, said it would not accept any medical examination conducted without his ‘personal’ physicians and a family member present.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026