Sugar, flour crisis: Govt taking action against 156 food department employees, says Akbar

(Karachi) Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said that the government has initiated action against 156 employees of the food department for their alleged involvement in sugar and flour crisis.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Friday, he transpired that about 60 to 70 government officials are directly involved with the mills. He maintained wheat was provided to 667 flour mills under government subsidy.

While referring to the stay order on the implementation of the sugar commission report by Sindh High Court, Akbar said that after hearing the government’s stance, the top court dismissed the restraining order.

"Measures were also recommended on the flour crisis. In the 2018 Ramadan package, wheat was released to the mills at the wheat subsidy rate. Out of 667, 149 flour mills were found involved in wheat theft," he highlighted.

The SAPM said that mills caused a loss of about Rs250 million, out of which Anti-Corruption Punjab has deposited Rs190 million in the treasury. "Following the report of the Sugar Commission, each institution will take action under its own law," Akbar said.